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.

been a thousand years since the last time." Elder Mateo observed calmly but there was a glint in his eyes that sparked excitement. He stood

handed Ricky

thirsty." Ricky appreciated that Elder Mateo would offer him a cup of tea, but he

Elder Mateo said nonchalantly. He didn't expect Ricky would turn

Ricky accepted. He didn't want to be on the bad side of Elder Mateo, so he thought it was best to drink

Mateo and drank all of

once that there was something different with it. It wasn't ordinary tea. He could sense something bubbling up in his stomach—an 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

Ricky asked apprehensively as he clutched his stomach to

and start cultivating

that this cup of tea was a gift from him. Without hesitation, he sat in lotus position to activate the Devouring Skill to cultivate the energy

into pure powerful energy. He could feel it flooding his whole body, strengthening him

he reached the ninth

to himself. He got up and

is called Lava Tea. The tea tree only grows on lava. It's one of the Treasures from Heaven and Earth. Even a small sip is able to enforce the grade of any warrior at

hadn't successfully cultivated the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, I would never give you

so much!" Ricky replied excitedly. He felt honored that Elder

put more effort into cultivating the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, or one day, you'll be sorry for

a little worried

take it seriously. You don't want to 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 can only choose the Treasures from Heaven and

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 save people with might and main? I mean, can you give me some hints

do you want?" Elder Mateo asked as he pondered

water, and the other with the element of fire or ice," Ricky replied

Shamrock. It can strengthen the warriors with the water nature spiritual meridian," Elder Mateo said after thinking hard about it for

third 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 seven hundred years old,"

help you immensely to cultivate the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula,"

you," Ricky said excitedly as he made mental note of the things to pick for his award. He was