The legendary warrior

Everyone present was utterly shocked at the bloody scene that had unfolded on the stage. A stunned stillness settled over the room.

The disciples were only just beginning to take it in what had happened when Elder Abbott pronounced that Ricky was the winner of the battle.

Dustin, who was at the ninth grade of Skin Refinement, ranked fifth among the top ten outer disciples. He had a three-star top spiritual meridian, and a skillful talent for swordsmanship. Even though coming into the battle, he had the absolute advantage. However, Ricky eventually beat him. Now Dustin was dead.

If Ricky had been one of the top ten outer disciples, this deed might have been more acceptable.

But Ricky had only been training in the Snow Sect for less than three months. However, it was no doubt that he had already become one of the best disciples of them all.

To top it all off, when he joined the Snow Sect, he was only at the third grade of Skin Refinement without a spiritual meridian. Back then, he had been the bottom of the ranks of all the disciples.

'Ricky has become one of our best outer disciples already, ' some of the other disciples thought. Slowly, they began to accept this fact.

The times when they had called him a loser were long gone, forgotten. Now Ricky was definitely in the top tier, at least among the outer disciples.

The outer disciples admired Ricky a lot. But unlike them, the inner disciples envied him a great deal.

Most of them speculated that the reason Ricky had turned the tables during the battle was that he had a special kind of cultivation method.

'It seems that he wasn't showing me all his cards, ' Grace thought to herself as she calmed down. Grace knew some things about the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula. Even if Ricky had reached the formula's second level, he still wouldn't have been able to block Dustin's sword-light.

Elder Abbott departed after he announced the result of the battle.

But before he left, he stared meaningfully at Ricky. He was shocked at the fact that Ricky had already mastered Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, even just the first degree. And yet, he was also a little amazed at the strength and power that the once-underdog warrior had.

Leaning on Heather and Vivian, Ricky slowly returned to Grace's yard, while controlling his breath to alleviate his aches.

*

The battle between Ricky and Dustin had been settled once and for all. But for the disciples, the impact of its result still continued.

Most of these ordinary disciples began to view Ricky as their role model.

they would also challenge the top ten outer disciples and succeed at winning

almost every outer disciple, and even most of the

Dustin's place and that he ranked the fifth

be in

stood a grand mansion. A young man dressed in black robes sat on a brocade cushion in silence. From the rhythm of his breathing, it was apparent that he was learning how

the edge of the room stood Rod and Greg, reporting on the

young man had stayed silent for several minutes after the two had finished reporting. "Well, gentlemen... He didn't appreciate the kindness we showed him. I give you my blessing to go and steal the special cultivation method from him, by fair means or foul. We, the Refinement Faction, must obtain that cultivation

it be known! The one who manages to get Ricky's special cultivation

under Grace's watch. She's one of the core disciples.

and Greg

*

was happening, a similar order had been given out in the Casting

cultivation method.

this mission was even bigger than that of the Refinement Faction. The one who killed Ricky would be awarded ten thousand silver coins and a weapon at

Faction, many disciples were also gathering, talking about Ricky and his special cultivation method as well.

know that the best move would be to take him in. If we do, once he becomes an inner disciple, he will be of great assistance to us when the day comes that we have

aside from that, we absolutely cannot let the other two factions steal Ricky's

coins! That's how much I'm willing to give to the one who can persuade Ricky to join our

thousand coins! Amelia, could you have fallen in love with Ricky already?" a disciple said teasingly.

have a go at persuading Ricky into joining their faction when they heard Amelia's offer. Twenty thousand silver coins!

focusing instead on thinking up ways to get him join our faction. I will stay true to my word about the reward,"

dispersed, Amelia looked expectantly at

so long. You don't have a spiritual meridian, and you really could be the right one..."

*

like a place out of a fantasy world, there stood proudly a glorious palace. A

man said slowly,

trailing off

better if we kill him once he gets even stronger?" the young man in white said pointedly,