Earthling in Uncharted Dimensions

Chapter 157: The 'Criminal'

'You have got to be kidding me!'

A surge of noises came flooding into his ears, and Lee felt dizzy for a moment. The immense amount of auditory sensations from all around him was too head-splitting, just as the bright light and vibrancy his eyes witnessed.

Moon Water sect, one of the four giants in the Piscerent city, was as huge and wide as the Typhoon clan was. The large arena in front of the sect's core building, was their sparring ground and venue for duels. As a female major sect, they gave slightly greater importance to physical fitness, than cultivation. In a world with patriarchy, the Moon Water sect was ready to make a change.

The two opposing sides had seats arranged in a descending manner, and facing the arena. From the first glance, Lee was able to count more than 234 sect disciples chatting and murmuring, while a major portion of them chanted a name. Though it was a name, Lee had trouble picking it up clearly. It was then he realised a slight disturbance in his ears.

The ears were not receiving the voices at a uniform rate. His right ear had lesser reception when compared with his left ear. He shaked his head to test whether it was a temporary state, but it proved otherwise. Somewhere among the thrashing and beating, a hit had partially affected his hearing. Understanding his situation, Lee became alert. He sharpened his ears so as to pick up any unusual sounds.

While listening keenly, he scanned the size of the arena. Made with some kind of clay and brick, it was pretty sturdy. Lee assessed the stage to be much sturdy for a clay and brick construct, from the vague, but innumerous scratch marks on its surface. Strike marks seen even on the sides of the 5 foot elevated platform gave out a hint of the spirited fighting style of the sect disciples.

The 13 and a quarter long and wide arena did not show any signs of withering. The marks on it served as a history to its long standing service. Across the stage was a raised platform over which Chu Hua and other elders sat with pride and elegance. Before Lee could give a glare, he was dragged onto the stage.

The crowd went silent and their eyes eagerly scanned the pitiful body of Lee. The person who dragged him all the way was a man, who had his head covered with a face cover. He ripped Lee's upperwear and tore it to shreds. Though dry, the sticky blood traces still gave a stingy pain. The disciples had their eyes caught on his physique for a second, but soon began to glare at him. His shackles from his limbs were also removed.

It was then Lee found his possession missing. He was sure that his spatial ring was on his finger until he lost his consciousness in the alleyway. Lee assumed that either the mercenaries, or the sect leader had snatched the spatial ring for themselves. In anger, he gritted his teeth, but the response from the surroundings were malicious. Lee felt anger from the surroundings, and Chu Hua stood up from her seat.

"Proud children of the Moon Water sect, this man here is a criminal. He used his power as a husband to restrict his wife from entering our sect. He denied her right to empower herself. For this deed of him, he must be punished. He will go through the execution process, and I guarantee you, that it will be as pleasing as ever.

Today's queue will be starting from Fen Ju. If she fails to kill this man in 5 minutes, the next one in the row can have her attempt. The disciple who entertains her fellow sisters will be rewarded with 6 Soul Replenishing pills.

And the execution starts now!"

Lee saw Chu Hua glancing at the face of the first woman sitting at the first seat on the right side of the arena. She immediately sprang up and jumped on the stage. From her actions, Lee guessed that her name must be Fen Ju.

A twin edged spear came materialising in her hand. Lee, who had nothing as a weapon, and still restoring his health, did not flinch at this sight. His body carrying the smell of blood took a stance, signalling that he was mentally ready for whatever that comes. His bones and joints were hesitant to move, but Lee convinced himself that it is nothing more than a mock drill.

His opponent spinned the spear in her palm and dashed at him. She only had five minutes to obtain the Soul Replenishing pills, so she was in a hurry. Her spear's tip was targeted at his chest, neck and temple precisely. For a girl of about 26, she was well built with a lean figure.

But Lee was not someone who could be knocked out even in half an hour, at the given moment. His halved stats were greater than his opponent by a considerable amount, and she found him tough to even touch. His brain back to its peak after a few evasions, coupled with his steadily increasing vigilance and reflexes, proved too fast for her. Before he knew, the time was up and the 4th stage Core Formation realm cultivator had to retire to her seat.

The next one was slightly larger in built than Fen Ju, and had twin sabers in her hands. The faint iciness he felt as she swung her sabers gave a hint that she was in Elemental Binding realm. But her cultivation was low, and she could only present the presence of her Psy to him. She too had to go back to her seat as Lee continuously evaded her slashes.

---

=+=+=

24 HOURS TO COMPLETION.

=+=+=

About one and a half hours had passed since Lee entered the arena. More than 20 opponents had fought him, but Lee went evading the strikes with a narrow margin. Spears, maces, swords, sabers, axes, bow and arrows, staves and many more weapons were brandished, and only a few were able to touch Lee. The realm and cultivation of his opponents steadily began to rise and Lee accepted this exercise session with an inside smile.

Spikes of ice and flames of fire began to dance on the stage, and the tactics to kill Lee off like a nobody changed to torture till death. Chu Hua saw the inability of the sect disciples to hurt him, thus approved two versus one fight. Slowly and steadily, his health and vitality was being tainted by the periodical heat and cold flashes.

*slash*

A slash came from the behind and Lee couldn't react on time, and thus received a cut on his back. The slash was shallow and had the wind element imbued in it. His skin reported that it has been damaged by the cut, through sensations of pain. Before observing, Lee secured a distance between him and the three opponents on the platform.

Looking through the corner of his eyes, Lee saw Chu Hua smiling at the sight. She was wondering whether an elder must be involved, and at the nick of time, someone made him bleed. The blood dripped a drop or two on the floor, and Lee observed the three females.

Lee was hesitant to fight and had an urge to escape while he can, but his eyes picked up well fortified walls and premises. He deduced that he had no other choice but to fight till he found an escape opening.

The well organised trio proved fatal as Lee began to accept cut marks on his body. To make him cringe, they attempted to cut his lowerwear, but Lee effectively defended those underhanded tricks. In fact, since the start of the fight, it was the only occasion when Lee actively defended. He knew that either his strength would surpass his opponents, or he would get hurt unnecessarily. The increased chances for the second option made him reserve his strength.

But fate made him display his strength. While he was using minimum movements to evade, the spear user cultivator swung her weapon horizontally at his face. Lee moved out of its trajectory, just enough for it to pass. But at the right moment, she loosened her grip slightly, and the weapon made a mark on his face!

Lee reeled back and his left palm covered his face in an instant. But the hand soon came back to a more aggressive fighting stance as the horizontal cut mark on his nose was exposed. When the trio were planning to torture him, they poked something deadly dangerous.

Before the swordswoman could make a retreat, Lee had reached in front of her. She was in a daze after witnessing this feat, and received Lee's horizontal kick on her stomach. As she was thrown off balance, her grip on her katana cme loose, and Lee took hold of it. Within seconds, he chopped down the spear in half. The spearwoman was taken aback by this feat, but maintained her composure.

The fiery whip flashed out and it came at Lee, who blocked the whip with the katana. The whip pulled the sword off his hand, and he voluntarily gave it away. But the whip did not go back to its owner, because Lee had caught hold on it and pulled it towards him.

*pak*

The slap was loud and clear and the cultivator holding the whip spinned in mid-air, before landing on the ground and rolling away like a tin can. The duo came to her and supported back on her feet. They were amazed at how Lee went from evasive to offensive.

The elders and the disciples were stunned by the sound. Chu Hua assumed that Lee was about to make his strength display, and gave a gesture for the students outside the stage to sneak attack. A bunch of Soul Transformation realm disciples surrounded Lee. Before he could understand what was happening, few pieces of paper came flying at him.

'Talismans!'

Lee recognised the object from D's memory. That thing was the Qi counterpart of the Mana runes. Talismans can go offensive, defensive and supportive at any given moment. The only variable is the strength of the opponent.

As Lee cluelessly received the talismans on his body without his consent, they were activated, and a numbing sensation coupled with agonising pain crawled over Lee.