The night was blood-red, weighing heavily over the City of Slaughter.
Xiao Yun sat by the window, holding a cup of tea that had gone completely cold, his gaze resting on the enormous Hell Slaughter Arena outside.
From dusk until nightfall, that dark-red behemoth had remained ablaze with lights. Faint cries of battle, explosive bursts of soul power, and some indescribable howling drifted from within, never ceasing.
"It has no intention of stopping," Xiao Yun murmured. He drained the cold tea, set down the cup, and rose to walk over to the bed.
The Sword Box lay quietly on the bed, fine patterns flowing across its jet-black surface. Beneath the candlelight, it faintly shimmered with a soft, lustrous sheen.
Xiao Yun reached out and tapped the box lightly. "Ling'er, are you awake?"
The Sword Box suddenly shuddered. A clear, radiant light surged from within, gathering and swirling in midair before finally taking the form of a young girl.
Ling'er wore a pale-blue dress, her long hair cascading like a waterfall and her features lively. She stood barefoot on the floor, spun in a circle, and turned to Xiao Yun with a beaming smile.
"Master! You finally decided to let me out? I've been cooped up in that box for so long!"
Xiao Yun shook his head helplessly. "You were the one who insisted on coming along. Besides, it's not as though you can't sense your surroundings in Sword Box form."
"That's not the same." Ling'er sidled over to the window and peered toward the Hell Slaughter Arena, her eyes sparkling. "Master, are they fighting in there? Can we go take a look?"
Xiao Yun considered for a moment, then nodded. "I wanted to see the layout inside the Hell Slaughter Arena myself. Let's go."
Ling'er cheered and followed Xiao Yun