"Ladies and gentlemen, the next soul battle will be very special. The two participants are the two-ring, level 27 Soul Grandmaster Nether Cat, and the three-ring, level 39 assault-type Soul Elder Blood Sword!"
"A two-ring fighter challenging a three-ring fighter across ranks—do we even need to watch to know the result? This is beyond a free win. Boring."
Hearing the referee's announcement, the audience members all wore disdainful expressions, as though they had already seen the outcome.
However, before they could continue discussing it, a black shadow shot directly out from Blood Sword's waiting area.
A crisp sword cry rang throughout the arena. When the black shadow came to a stop, he was already standing in midair.
The great lamps above the soul battle platform now resembled a full moon in the night, becoming the backdrop behind that black figure.
"That's contestant Blood Sword! What a unique entrance! It seems the upcoming soul battle will bring us quite a visual feast. Wait, why is he holding a catgirl in his arms?"
"Ahem, contestant Blood Sword, in a one-on-one soul battle, you cannot bring anyone up here, not even a maid. Those are the rules of our Great Soul Arena."
The referee, who had initially been surprised by Xiao Chen's entrance, quickly noticed Zhu Zhuqing in his arms and hurriedly reminded him.
Xiao Chen, wearing the crimson mask he had drawn from the system over the years, curled his lips into a faint smile as he spoke.
"Of course I know the rules."
"In that case..."
"But what if the one in my arms is not only my maid, but also my opponent, Nether Cat?"
Upon hearing Xiao Chen's words, Zhu Zhuqing, wearing a black-and-white mask, nodded slightly at the referee.
Immediately afterward, a blush appeared on her cold face.
Because