The legendary warrior

Ricky's eyes swept over the Ranking List quickly, but he didn't find his name anywhere in the top forty thousand.

As he scanned through the other names, the person in the thirty-thousandth place caught his attention. A smirk flashed on his lips.

He activated his identity card, moved his name upwards, and covered the thirty-thousandth place. The action made excitement bubble up inside him.

"Ricky, are you out of your mind?! That guy in the thirty-thousandth place is Fernando Xiao, one of the strongest geniuses on the list. He is only slightly weaker than an upper spiritual emperor," Claire told him in a strangled voice. She had been standing beside him and was utterly shocked when he challenged Fernando Xiao.

"Don't worry. I haven't gone crazy. If you'll recall, I spent six months cultivating. I'm sure my efforts will not be in vain," Ricky reassured her with a confident smile.

As he said so, the Ranking List gave off a beam of light. Meanwhile, Fernando Xiao was in the middle of his seclusion, but something disturbed him. He opened his eyes curiously, his eyes landing on his glowing identity card. 'Did someone challenge me?' he wondered to himself.

He was right, of course, and Ricky was already waiting for him on the platform.

Surrounding Ricky were countless disciples, evidently eager to see the upcoming battle.

Their chatter filled the air, and each one had their own opinion they wanted to share. "Ricky is incredible! He didn't challenge anyone in the past few months. But here he comes, challenging someone who is in the top forty thousand, someone leagues ahead of him in rank!"

Although Ricky's actions were astonishing, they had come to expect the unexpected when it came to Ricky. Thus, they were more curious than shocked this time.

"Fernando should be almost as strong as an upper spiritual emperor. But when Ricky fought six months ago, he was weaker than an upper spiritual emperor, wasn't he? How is he going to survive this?"

"That's true, but I heard he had spent the last six months cultivating in the Power Palace."

"Fernando is coming!"

someone excitedly shouted, and a hush settled over the place. A figure flying at high speeds was approaching.

Once he was close enough, Ricky took note that it was a good-looking young man. His white clothes clung tightly to his well-sculpted body, and a white jade crown sat neatly over his head.

It must be no other than Fernando Xiao. At his current strength, he was probably the strongest in the younger generation, next to the upper spiritual emperor.

brewing storm. "Ricky

mean he would look down on the other man. After all, he had heard a lot of incredible things about Ricky, and he didn't think the achievements he garnered came from his ego alone. With all the waves his name made,

the platform. "I'm sorry, Fernando. I hope you won't be offended that I called you out

to be challenged anytime. It's just that I feel unlucky that

will be an honor to go a few rounds with someone good at both martial arts and weapon casting,"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

the words fell from his lips, Fernando Xiao unleashed the power of a middle spiritual emperor

Water Mutant, which might be accurate, seeing as he had

in the middle of an endless sea, and the surging waves buffeted him in all directions. For a

releasing seven kinds of runes that rushed out into the air like blood-thirsty dragons.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

a violent dance, the momentums of both sides collided first, and it caused the entire

think I can challenge those who are stronger than me right now. I can

I can become a Sage Level casting master," thought Ricky to himself,

sprang from stillness to movement as they dashed forward and clashed with each other. Ricky enclosed his fists with seven mutant powers. With it,

water power gushed out like a broken dam. He

ball rapidly expanded, easily catching all the

all the force

attacks. I knew there's a reason he is on the Misty South Palace's Ranking List, ' he mused with no small

He knew above all people

Net!" Ricky

earlier got tangled into it, and not one got through

took advantage of the water power to deflect my attacks," Ricky praised Fernando

a genius of your caliber, it's better to be safe than sorry. Otherwise, I'd lose before I even knew what happened," replied

themselves with excitement when they saw how well-matched Ricky and Fernando Xiao were. "I knew he made great progress in the past six

Six months is just a blink of an

can't believe Ricky progressed so much in such a short

matter is that

this is why he received Master Paul's