The night was as black as ink, deep and heavy, as if it could devour all the light.
However, in the midst of this darkness, the Soto Grand Spirit Arena was like a dazzling star, radiating unparalleled brilliance and illuminating the surrounding night sky.
Crowds surged in from all directions like a tide. Their steps were hasty, and their faces were filled with anticipation and excitement.
This place was not only a battlefield for soul masters but also a paradise for ordinary people to release their enthusiasm.
Their voices echoed in the night sky, forming waves of heat.
Flanders, the Master, and Zhao Wuji led nine young soul masters. Their figures stood out prominently in the night.
The masks covering half of their faces added an extra layer of mystery.
When they stepped through the entrance of the Spirit Arena, the surrounding hubbub was immediately replaced by an undercurrent. Everyone's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the aura of these nine people.
They didn't stop and went straight to the registration area, where new code - names would become their new identities.
It was the weekend, and the Spirit Arena was more crowded than usual.
As the spirit battles were about to start, the audience's emotions were ignited, and the entire Spirit Arena was enveloped in a warm atmosphere.
Chen Feng and Zhu Zhuqing slowly walked onto the spirit battle stage amidst the host's announcement. Since they were participating under aliases, not many people knew them, and their appearance didn't draw much applause.
"Next, let's welcome the opponents of the Spirit Cat Divine Sword combination - "
The host's voice was full of excitement and solemnity, as if unveiling a legend about to unfold.
"The Cat - Rat combination has achieved four consecutive victories in the two - on - two spirit battles. Their powerful strength has brought unprecedented glory in the Soul Master - level competitions."
The lights in the arena suddenly dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the host, making his figure seem even taller. His words echoed in the arena:
"If the Cat - Rat combination can defeat today's opponents, then they will achieve five consecutive victories. Perhaps, the next time they appear in the Soto Grand Spirit Arena, they will enter the central spirit battle area, which is a great honor for spirit fighters."
When the words "Cat - Rat combination" burst from the host's mouth, the entire Spirit Arena seemed to be ignited by an invisible force and instantly boiled over.
Cheers, screams, and applause crashed like a tempestuous storm, converging into a surging ocean that shook the hearts of everyone present.
Indeed, this was an almost invincible combination. Their names had long become a legend, a symbol, and a guarantee of victory in the Spirit Arena.
Every time they appeared on the arena, it was like a grand celebration, attracting countless gazes and expectations.
"Did you also bet on the Cat - Rat combination?" In the audience, a spectator's voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement. He tightly grasped his friend's arm, his eyes glinting with the desire for gold soul coins.
"What a coincidence, so did I." The friend replied, his eyes shining with excitement and avarice.
"Let's get rich together." They high - fived each other, and at the moment their palms met, it was as if they had already touched the fruits of victory.
In the bustling crowd, a wealthy local landowner dressed in magnificent brocade robes stood out.
Yesterday, this landowner had set foot in the Spirit Arena for the first time. With a hint of hesitation and curiosity, he had bet one thousand gold soul coins on the Cat - Rat combination.
When the news of victory came, the triple return was like a thunderbolt, instantly igniting the fire in his heart.
That surprise was like a shot in the arm, filling him with unprecedented confidence in his betting judgment. He began to believe that he was the divine hand in the Spirit Arena, able to foresee the outcome of every spirit battle.
At this moment, a smug smile hung on the landowner's face, a smile that exuded an indescribable confidence and pride.
Not long ago, he had unhesitatingly invested five thousand gold soul coins, once again placing all his hopes on the Cat - Rat combination.
In the landowner's view, there was no suspense in this match at all.
He had dug up detailed information about the Spirit Cat Divine Sword combination through various channels - this newly - formed combination seemed too inexperienced, and their strength was far inferior to that of the battle - hardened Cat - Rat combination.
Especially the female member, whose soul power level hadn't even crossed the threshold of level 30. How could she compete with two Soul Masters in their thirties?
The landowner sneered inwardly. In such a match, the scales of victory had clearly tilted. Thinking of this, the corner of his mouth involuntarily curled into a smug arc.
He comfortably crossed his legs, his eyes showing the calm and confidence of a victor.
For him, this match was just a formality. In the end, he just needed to claim his generous winnings.
However, this process wasn't entirely to his satisfaction. Since the market generally didn't favor the Spirit Cat Divine Sword combination, even if he won, the odds he received weren't particularly high.
This made him feel a bit itchy. If the odds were slightly higher, his earnings would be even more substantial.
However, such thoughts were quickly tossed aside. He knew that a steady small profit brought him more peace of mind than a risky large sum.
After all, victory seemed almost within reach, and there was no need to take more risks.
Amid the deafening cheers that seemed to lift the roof, the opponents of the Spirit Cat Divine Sword combination, the Cat - Rat combination, swaggered onto the spirit battle stage.
The two soul masters who came up, a man and a woman, seemed to have completely different auras.
The man was short and obese, almost defying the normal human body structure. Rolls of fat piled up layer by layer, forming a perfect circular outline.
It was more like he was rolling rather than walking, and every step was somewhat comical.
His figure was even more exaggerated than Ma Hongjun's. His whole body was like a rolling ball of flesh, and with every movement, his fat seemed to be dancing merrily.
His small eyes were almost narrowed to a slit by the pressure of the fat, but they revealed a cunning glint, much like a sly rat.
And his partner, the woman, was in sharp contrast to the man in appearance and figure.
Her short, fiery red hair seemed to be ablaze with a searing flame under the lights of the Spirit Arena, dazzling to behold.
The small whip tightly held in her hands trembled slightly with every movement, as if it would turn into a lightning - fast attack the next second.
She was wrapped in a tight leather outfit that perfectly outlined her exquisite figure.
With every step she took, she seemed to be demonstrating her strength and elegance, making the male audience in the stands stare intently, their eyes filled with undisguised desire.
The woman's figure was extremely alluring. Her perfect curves seemed to be a masterpiece of nature, and her plump and round bosom was almost ready to burst out.
Every move she made seemed to carry a kind of magic, attracting countless greedy gazes.
Some of the men in the audience gradually began to breathe heavily, and the heat and greed in their eyes seemed to penetrate the thin fabric, seeing through every inch of her skin.