The legendary warrior

'The voice might be coming from Elder Mateo, ' Ricky pondered.

Before he came here, Grace had told him something about the Snow Sect's Treasure Tower. For the longest time, Elder Mateo, the eighth elder in the sect, had been dutifully guarding it since.

*

"Elder, I have won the Outer Competition. I'm here to get my award," Ricky said respectfully.

"Oh? Are you the one who doesn't have a spiritual meridian? Come in," the Elder replied after a while. "But you have to come alone," he added, implying that Heather couldn't come with him inside the tower.

"Are you going to be okay here outside?" Ricky turned around to ask her. Heather smiled softly and told him she was going to be fine. With that, Ricky stepped inside the tower.

He looked around the whole place. There were only a few things that could be found around the ground floor—some tables, chairs, cushions and a big crude wood bed.

'This floor must be the place where Elder Mateo used to cultivate himself, ' Ricky thought to himself

Ricky walked and observed the place for a while, until he saw an old man with white hair who was sitting on a chair, drinking a cup of tea. Ricky guessed that he must be Elder Mateo.

"Elder," Ricky greeted respectfully.

After hearing Ricky's voice, Elder Mateo put his cup of tea down on the table and shifted his gaze to Ricky. He carefully studied him, looking at him up and down. Elder Mateo broke into a small smile and after a while of pondering, he said "Extraordinary. I see that you have a great foundation at the Skin Refinement"

"Thank you, Elder," Ricky bowed. He felt honored to be acknowledged by the eighth elder in the sect.

"About the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, can you show it to me?" Elder Mateo asked while he sipped his tea. Ricky was stunned with the odd request.

He was taken aback with the old man's request. Stunned, he calmed himself down and replied, "Yes, Elder."

Ricky summoned his spiritual energy to activate the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula—his whole body turned orange immediately.

years since the last time." Elder Mateo observed calmly but there was a

this," Elder Mateo handed Ricky a cup of tea.

appreciated that Elder Mateo would offer him a cup of tea,

nonchalantly. He

didn't want to be on the bad side of Elder Mateo, so he thought

drank all of its

immense heat that radiated from within. He felt like the "tea" that he had drunk was going to burn his stomach up anytime. Eventually, the scorching heat started spreading into other parts of

Ricky asked apprehensively as he clutched his stomach

don't want to burn, you'd better sit and start

from him.

Ricky felt the heat subside and translate into pure powerful energy. He could feel it flooding his whole body, strengthening him

hour later, he reached the ninth grade of Skin Refinement.

himself. He got up and

Tea. The tea tree only grows on lava. It's one of the Treasures from Heaven and Earth. Even a small sip

cultivated the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, I would never give you such a treasure," he

honored that Elder Mateo had given him such a great

or one day, you'll be sorry for drinking it,"

you serious?" Ricky felt a little worried about the Elder's

disappoint me and experience the dire consequences of it!" Elder Mateo added. "Don't waste any more time. You should go upstairs to get your reward. But you

replied, as he bowed respectfully before the Elder. He turned around and

few steps, he returned to ask Elder Mateo, "Elder, did you hear this old saying before—Help people through the end and

tell me. What kind of treasure do you want?" Elder Mateo asked as he pondered

and the other with the element of fire

something called Pure Blue Shamrock. It can strengthen the warriors with the water nature spiritual meridian,"

floor. You can't go there yet. But, there is an Ice Ganoderma Lucidum on the second floor at its west end. It's rare because it's

help you immensely

you," Ricky said excitedly as he made mental note of the things to pick for his award. He was glad that he had asked Elder Mateo and was able to listen some of his