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 up and

this," Elder Mateo handed

help yourself. I'm not thirsty." Ricky appreciated that Elder Mateo would offer

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

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

from Elder Mateo and drank all of its contents

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

Ricky asked apprehensively as he clutched his stomach

better sit and start cultivating yourself," Elder Mateo suggested with a

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

Ricky felt the heat subside and translate into pure powerful energy. He could feel it

an hour later, he reached the ninth grade of

himself. He got up and thanked Elder Mateo for

lava. It's one of the Treasures from Heaven and Earth. Even a small sip is able to enforce the

Formula, I would never give you such a treasure,"

honored that Elder Mateo had given him

into cultivating the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, or one day, you'll be sorry for drinking it,"

Ricky felt a little

time. You should go upstairs to get your

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

before—Help people through the end and save people with might and main? I mean, can you give me some hints about what

do you

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

can find something called Pure Blue Shamrock. It can strengthen the warriors with the water nature spiritual meridian," Elder Mateo said after thinking hard

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,"

immensely to cultivate the Nine-degree

Ganoderma Lucidum. Got it. Thank 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 wise suggestions. Then he ran up to the second floor in