Down Time

Xia turns around in his sleep, holding onto the thin white blanket that is on his body. His eyelids twitch as he opens them up. He sits up on the bed, cover in cold dirty sweat. Pain swims in his pupil. By instinct alone, Xia pulls the blanket and touches his crotch.

'….Thank the Celestial Dragon. It's all still there'

"They are there but do we even know if it still works?"

'…..'

"I think it's time to kiss goodbye any hope of having kids"

'Are all women that ruthless? Not even bandit kings will kick someone in the crotch

"I know a few"

'….'

"Anyway, you should get ready and go to the arena. The test is about to end"

'Ok..'

Xia thought to himself as he gets out of bed. He notices that there were other cultivators sleeping in beds. This made him feel a bit better. He had no idea how he will show his face if he was the only cultivator that got badly hurt in this fifth test.

'Miss Zhihui must be really good at healing'

"The perks of having a Devine stage skill"

'Devine?'

"Man, how much has knowledge regressed in this era? Is the second stronger skill stage anyone can get. Not a lot of people can even dream of thinking about owning and even less learning a Devine skill. But each Sect should have a couple of Devine skills."

'Um…probably only Grand Elders and Sect master might know about them. Maybe that is the reason that such knowledge is not common. Everyone else will think skills only have three stages. Earth, Sky, and Heaven'

"Eh-still makes no sense why they would do that"

Xia ignored the old soul's confusion as he walks out of the clinic. Using the nice convenient map that hangs from the wall. He finds his way back to the Colosseum. When he arrives at the colosseum, he found a battle happening between two cultivators.

It looks like the climax of the battle is about to happen. The two cultivators, both women, were sweating profusely. Sending a barrage of attacks both elemental and physical at each other. There don't seem to be that many spectators in the Colosseum. It was strangely empty

As he analyzes his surroundings a female voice enters his ears

"Welcome back"

He turns his head to the side. His eyes landed on the sitting figure of Wei. He felt a sharp pain in his crotch area. The trauma of being kicked in that area is still fresh in his mind. Noticing his reaction, Wei looks a bit apologetic.

"Sorry about that, I hope you don't hold any grudges for that"

"That all depends on if it still works after that kick.. Who kicks a person on the nuts in a fight?"

"Those that want to win," Wei said with a soft smile.

"…"

Xia could not believe what he heard. He stood there, stunned, like a deer in headlights.

"Are you going to stand there, or will you sit down?"

"..Sit down"

Xia replies to the noble lady as he walks towards her. Sitting in one of the free seats next to her.

"How many fights are left?"

"Maybe around 5 to 8. Plus, even if the fights all end, we still must wait for the injured people to wake up. If they don't wake up by today. The next test will be held tomorrow"

Wei said as she looks at the position of the sun. It was already passing the mid-point. She looks at Xia as she points to a nearby spot.

"They are serving food in there"

"So that's where everyone is"

"I already ate so you go by yourself"

"Don't mind if I do"

Xia said as he said goodbye to Wei. He walks toward the spot she pointed. He found a corridor that led to a door. The smell of food enters his nose. Following the smell of food, under the guidance of his hungry stomach, he opens the door at the end of the corridor.

He is greeted by the smell of food, the sight of a medium size room, and the sound of people feasting and talking. He closes the door behind him as he walks to the buffet table. The next time the door opened, Xia came out. Patting his belly with a satisfied look on his face.

"Damn, I haven't seen anyone eat like that in ages!"

'…no need to shame me'

"Hey kiddo I aint shaming you. I am just saying not everyone eats like a hungry beggar that has not touched a warm piece of bread in years."

'Now that is a bit much….did I really see like that?'

"You bet your ass you did"

Xia blushes a bit as he walks out of the hallway. He found Wei sitting in the same place as before and started to make his way toward her. Sitting next to her once again as he looks at the new fighters in the arena. Wei looks at him from the corner of her eye for a second before focusing on the fight again.

"Thankfully some of the fights ended rather quickly. We might be able to do the last test today"

"That is great. I want to get this over with as fast as possible."

"Exactly"

The duo watches the remaining fights in silence. Neither of them tried to break the awkward silence that surrounds them. It looks took an hour for the remaining fights to end and an extra hour for everyone that is injured to wake up and join the colosseum audience once again.

Once everyone was presented again, Mors and Zhihui step forward. Mors spoke with a loud Qi-infused voice.

"Now that all of you have finished your battles and recuperated from your injuries!" Mors's eyes linger on Xia for a few seconds before looking at the audience in general. "This marks the end of the fifth test and the end of me being your test proctor"

"Follow me as I will lead you to the site of the final test!"

Like worshipers following their god, everyone stood up as they walk to the arena. From there they follow Mors out of the arena and the sect campus.