The legendary warrior

Creaks produced by wooden joints of life-sized puppets signified the increasing amount of wooden men opposing Ricky and Agnes' entrance in the place.

They barricaded them within a circle of their own numbers, reaching to an overwhelming one hundred warriors that each possessed a strength at the eighth grade of Skin Refinement. Ricky dodged attacks from several of his foes on the front line, gritting his teeth in frustration at the absurd situation. If he were only to battle ten, then he would have cleared the obstacle right away. This many men were too much of a danger, even for him. He had to move out of harm's way quickly than risk a defeat after attempting to engage in a battle on his own.

Another rush of wooden arms and legs strived to wound his body. His nimble form allowed him to evade and buy him enough time to cast a sidelong glance at Agnes, sending out a sign to unleash a coordinated attack. She nodded with muted agreement before Ricky unsheathed his long saber and simultaneously activated the Sixth Strike of Nonuple Flame Strike.

In a blinding flash, six individual flames scattered in all directions and served as the pair's shield. The scalding heat emanating from the ball of light warded of their adversaries, causing them to be wary of making careless approaches near the two's protected space.

A crack of a long, white whip followed shortly after; Agnes conducted her weapon, manifesting the Octuple Waves as a second layer of cover from the almost indestructible army.

An uncertain atmosphere befell on the troops, hesitance hindering them from mindlessly surging forward. Ricky smirked and took advantage of their momentary weakness. A war cry ripped from his throat, his arms tensing in effort as he wielded his saber with mastery and precision while the flames remorselessly followed up his initial assaults. Agnes fought by his side, mercilessly lashing away as her waves hurtled towards other overlooked enemies.

The opposite elements synchronized in such rehearsed perfection that greatly reflected the compatibility of its commanders' fighting styles. Unfortunately, they were in collision with a legion sporting physiques stronger than that of normal humans. None of their mighty prowess had gone through their wooden surfaces as previously wished; it only left slight cracks and gashes as proof of their charges.

Stepping back, Ricky appraised the subjects with a frustrated glare, "The wood is too thick and hard. My saber is the intermediate Mortal Level weapon, one that can even slash through heavy lumps of iron, yet all it does to them is inflicting a few cuts." He appraised them, his fist slowly tightening its hold on his sword as he prepared to face another reformation of the Wooden Men Array. Agnes' gaze flickered to him for a brief instant before it focused back on their foes in deep concentration.

"It's not that it's hard; these beings are under the protection of a powerful array. Weapons at the advanced stage of the Mortal Level would even be unable to completely destroy them," she explained in chorus with the onset of sprinting forms thirsting for their utter annihilation. She manipulated her whip like an extension of her arm; ceaselessly hitting her desired targets one by one with unrestrained force.

"If the array is so powerful, these things are bound to have a weakness, right?" Ricky grunted, kicking back a wooden soldier that had grasped his ankle. It flung away from him, covering the distance of a few feet as it smashed a number of his colleagues along the way. Humming in reply, Agnes hid a smirk as she pondered over his question.

"Yes, you're correct. They do have one weakness..." She snapped her arm back in a quick gesture, smacking a combatant right on its head with the tail end of her whip, effectively cutting it off of its life. "Their heads contain their cores and aren't protected by the array power. As long as we shatter it, we can destroy them." Ricky raised his eyebrows in surprise, laughing airily after taking a glimpse at Agnes' satisfied and triumphant smile.

"No wonder why these knights tried their best to defend their heads earlier instead of countering us," said Ricky, an excited glint gleaming in his eyes. He swung his saber in an arc, effectively immobilizing three enroaching fellows as their head fell to the ground.

"You can cover for me. I'll find a chance to finish them as fast as I can!" Waves rose around Agnes once more, displaying a duress higher than the former, a product of her set determination and will.

The infantry closest to them cowered, tucking their heads behind their rickety arms to guard it. She was about to follow through when Ricky lowered a hand on her shoulder, coaxing her to subside her building ability. "Agnes, I can deal with them alone. You can just relax and watch me," he responded with a reassuring smile.

Sensing his confidence, Agnes immediately understood what was in his mind, and so she left him to manage the rest.

The loss of her intimidating presence led the majority to regain back their courage to retaliate. The wooden men were about to take a step forward when Ricky activated his cultivation method, his body glowing in ethereal, orange illumination. He had a godly aura to him, pronounced further by his handsome features and soft hair naturally dyed a brighter color compared to the present luster of his skin. A blush dusted over Agnes' cheeks, her eyes widening in admiration and appreciation of his attractiveness. Ricky caught her stare and chuckled in amusement; a sound very lethal to her racing heart at present.

"Hey Agnes, is your intention of inviting me to participate in the competition of the Shui Clan really only includes my cultivation method?"

cheekily, flexing his muscles as

destroying

hid her flushed expression from sight,

"As you wish!"

of Wooden Men

stampede of numerous feet aiming for his progressing form shook the place,

seemed to be unbothered by it. Instead, he plowed and beat them ruthlessly, smashing every core with unrivaled readiness that only he could perform.

robust figure, but they were all met to no avail.

endeavors merely damaged his clothes, revealing healthy and unscathed flesh

Purification. He was invincible to warriors of Skin

not dare hope to survive, and several wooden men's heads collapsing one by one at its mercy were great examples of

successfully

one that the superiors watching from above greedily absorbed

three demi-immortal grandmasters standing leisurely in the air. They communicated using a special mode of sending voice messages, their enthusiasm for the matches they observed freely leeching into the highs and lows of their intonations.

body, perhaps he is a member of the Snow

...

they hailed Ricky's talent. They were not exactly surprised; if he had not won against the Wooden Men Array, Agnes would have been deemed as inefficient for seeking out an underwhelming warrior.

wreckage beneath their feet in slight shock. She had knowingly prepared for this outcome; Ricky was just as she had expected, although, seeing him

wrong. Rather, it's my cultivation realm

off his hands, Ricky straightened up and beckoned Agnes

stairs leading to the second floor.

similar to the first trial, with the difference of needing to combat

that matched the vigor of warriors at the ninth grade of Skin Refinement.

a staggering total of fifty, but with the probable

a dawning realization settling in him that this level would surely be a

past array, so he was convinced that he would come out

to his companion, "Agnes, where's the core of these stone men?" he

them with the Light Apperception," With her whip readied by her side, Agnes pushed forward

a smile, pulling out his blade in

help you this time!"