Lee stared at the wooden token on his hands, and he couldn't help but grin, it was slowly getting closer to the matches, the token was quite similar to the one given to him in the Raging storm palace, it was inscribed with the number '22', the first set of battles that were coordinated in the Arena of heroes were in form of a battle royale, they went in, in groups of varying numbers depending on the amount of participants for each cultivation stage.
No matter the amount of participants, the number of groups would not exceed sixteen, but in rare cases could only be lower.
For the stage which Lee had registered for which was the fourth stage, they were to go in a group of eight, so this eight would engage in a battle royale, were only one person was needed, so in a group only one winner was needed.
...…
"Citizens of Vine city, another edition of battles is about to occur in the Arena of Heroes, are you excited?!"
A very sonorous and energy filled voice rang out throughout the stadium, Lee couldn't see the owner of the voice, but he knew the person should be at least a Ring cultivator, with how high pitched his voice was, it had to have been backed up with spiritual energy.
"Yessss!!!" Several excited voices rang out amidst the crowd, Lee couldn't help but chuckle,this place was full of energy.
"As usual we begin with a battle royale, this night is meant for only the first to the fifth stage, so start placing your bets on your favourite cultivator as the battle is about to beginnnn!!" As soon as he said this several men strapped in black robes began to appear on the five sections in the platform, what separated the sections was nothing but lines drawn out by a Quill ink, Lee couldn't help but wonder if this was enough as when battles occurred, they needed more than a line to separate the sections.
Lee who stood in front of the fourth section with several other cultivators, stared at the middle aged man that stood on the fourth section, from his aura he seemed to be a very powerful cultivator.
"I would be your referee for this night, the instruction is don't kill your opponent, participants with numbers one to eight, should step into the platform"
The middle aged man on Lee's section said.
Eight cultivators walked towards the platform, and this scene occurred at the other four sections,Lee stared at his surroundings,only few faces looked young the rest were firm experienced faces, it was people like this the audience placed their bets on, those that had been participating in the Arena of heroes for quite a while.
Immediately the eight cultivators had settled on the fourth section in the platform, the referee walked down from the platform and then he faced the cultivators and said
"If you have been defeated the only to stop your opponent from attacking you is for you to admit defeat".
With this he waved his hands and a blue barrier suddenly appeared on the lines that indicated their sections, same was what was occurring in the other sections, several resplendent barriers began to appear out of thin air.
"Wow even the referee is a ring cultivator, this people are very rich!"
Lee couldn't help but exclaim under the mask.
"Let the battle begin!"
As though it was planned the referees announced in unison, which caused the audience to scream in excitement and also caused the contestants to begin to exchange fists.
Within few breaths the cry of a cultivator admitting defeat rang out, from the fourth section, and like musical melody, other similar cries began to ring out.
......
"Participants with numbers sixteen to twenty four should step on the stage" The referee who didn't bother to step on the platform said.
Lee took in a deep breath it was finally time, he was very excited, if he wasn't on a mask, his anxiousness would have been so evident, he had watched the first two battles, and it was certainly fierce, only one cultivator out of eight participants of the same cultivation level, it was a true test, the two who had won the previous ones were entirely strong, after stepping on the stage Lee couldn't help but stare at them where they were seated cross legged just beside the platform, it was a reserved area, he gripped his fist he was sure the next man to join them, he took his eyes off them to stare at his present opponents,who were now all standing in the section.
In the few moments that they had, they quickly made use of it to scan their opponents, several gazes were directed towards Lee probably because of his mask, it gave him an air of mysteriousness.
The referee waved his hands and the barrier appeared once again.
"Begin!" Immediately this words dropped several rays of light began to fly around in the stage, a young man who seemed more older than Lee didn't waste time to pounce towards him, he immediately activated the mystical blood he had injected, his eyes became thinner and flashes of lightning could be seen dancing across his eyes, he seemed not to want to waste time as he immediately pulled out an heavy sword strapped at his back.
Lee chuckled as he pressed his feet on the ground and then summoned Blueflame, like a tiger he pounced towards the incoming cultivator.
"Boom!"
Blueflame slammed on the heavy sword of the young man and to his surprise he felt as though he had been hit by a moving train, he took several steps back, and stared shocked at Lee.
"Are you not a swordsman, why do you posses such body strength" The young man couldn't help but ask.
"You talk a lot!" Lee chuckled as he sent Blueflame flying towards the man's vital point.
" You brat, remember it his I Youngblood that defeated you in the Arena of Heroes" The man yelled in anger has he proceeded to defend against Lee's attack.