Chapter 71 No Longer An Underdog

"Humph! Make it clear, then, exactly why you're here!" Ricky sneered.

"Well, now that my dear cousin has won the first place in the Outer Competition, of course I am here to
congratulate him. However, I would also like to challenge his strength!" Nate said, smiling wickedly.

As soon as the words left his lips, Nate produced a sudden burst of momentum characteristic of the
first grade of Blood Purification.

Since Nate owned a four-starred inferior spiritual meridian with fire nature, the momentum of his power
burst naturally took on the shape of fire. Fused with the blood vitality of Blood Purification, his entire
being transformed into something akin to a furnace, burning hot and sparking.

"You know this is not the place for this!" Grace said coldly, at the sight of Nate preparing for battle.

It dawned on Ricky that his cousin had come to humiliate him.

Having just won the first place in the Outer Competition, Ricky had surmounted on the first high point of
his martial arts career. From hereafter, he had been given the opportunity to march forward.

Knowing Nate's strength, it would be highly possible that Ricky would be badly injured if he was hit
hard.

Nate had come at the right time.

Nate had traumatized Ricky by betraying their friendship and stabbing him from behind. If he could
drag Ricky down again when he just won the Outer Competition, he knew Ricky might stay down for
the rest of his life whenever it came to cultivation.

For Ricky, his cousin's betrayal was worse than being killed. As the saying went, "To kill someone truly
is to break his heart."



"Well, my little brother and the so-called genius of the Nan Clan, are you really going to hide behind a
woman?" Ignoring Grace's words, Nate mocked Ricky and stared at him.

"Please leave!" Grace said it again, moving forward to assert herself.

But Sean stopped her.

"I'll take care of it, Master!" Ricky murmured, giving Grace a reassuring look.

Ricky very well knew that Nate's supporters included not only the second core disciples like Sean, but
also those of the innate spirits. Ricky wanted Grace to stay out of this. It was his problem.

And at least, Nate was only at the first grade of Blood Purification. It might be difficult for Ricky to win
over his cousin, but he definitely stood a fighting chance.

"Good. I'm pleased to see that being the first ranked outer disciple has brought you much confidence,
little brother," Nate said with a cruel smile, seeing that Ricky had finally taken up his challenge.

"Well, are we going to the Death Arena now? Should we make a final bid for victory?" Ricky said
solemnly, his teeth clenched.

"Don't bother. We both know that I can beat you with just one move!" Nate responded coldly.

Nate knew going to the Death Arena would be a bad decision. He was a warrior of Blood Purification
and a disciple of an innate spirit. He was bound to lose face even if he won the battle, against his
cousin of all people.

His sole aim was to discourage Ricky from practicing. That would be enough.

Nate immediately rose to the offensive side.



Channeling the energy of fire and the blood vitality of Blood Purification, his fingers transformed into
talons those of a real bird of prey. With this, he rushed at Ricky fiercely. Nate also erupted in Light
Apperception.

He used nearly all of his strength to do this, knowing he could not take chances.

From the momentum that he generated, it was clear that this move was as powerful as that of most
warriors at the first grade of Blood Purification.

In the face of such a powerful move, Ricky's mind grew quiet. He was focused on survival, on fighting
and killing his opponent. He forgot the fear.

He had been beaten by Nate once, and it would never happen again. Now, Ricky was an excellent
warrior. He was no longer an underdog whom the Snow Sect called "Waste".

"Boom!"

In the blink of an eye, Ricky directly used the Second Degree of Nine-degree Body Refining Formula.
Encapsulated in the orange glow, he looked like a god of war.

The Second Degree of Nine-degree Body Refining Formula Ricky used caught both Sean and Nate by
surprise, because they had also been interested in this body refining cultivation method.

Instantaneously, fire, ice and the Light Apperception all encircled Ricky's right fist.

"Devourer Zone, devouring runes!"

He roared in his mind, activating all runes in the Devourer Zone that he could launch.

Suddenly, Ricky's entire right arm was covered with glowing devouring runes. A strong force filled the
air, which was up to par with Nate's momentum.



Sean was shocked by Ricky's force, because it had seemed weaker during the competition.

Nate had been taken aback, shocked and indignant.

Ricky's power served to prove once again that his spiritual meridian possessed dual nature, but was
also suitable for casting skills. If only he had a complete spiritual meridian! One could only imagine
what amazing feats he would have developed by now.

How could Ricky's rapid progress not fill Nate's heart with jealousy and resentment?

"Oh, it's a good thing It's a good thing his spiritual meridian was removed!" Nate said to himself, gritting
his teeth.

Nate pulsated with growing strength, which the increased the potency of his move.

"Boom!"

The next moment, fist and claw collided and exploded into a powerful roar, sending waves of wind that
blasted both of them.

At the moment of the collision, Nate's eyes grew dark and more excited, knowing confidently that he
could defeat Ricky with this move and the failure would haunt Ricky till his last breath.

But he overestimated himself, and failed to anticipate the true strength of his opponent.

At the moment of collision, Nate felt the blow of a wild animal collide with his own, and a tremendous
force surged through his claws and onto the rest of his body.

As this took place, he felt these great forces sucking away the strength in his claws.

In an unexpected turn of events, Nate's power was transferred to Ricky's fist.



Ebbing and flowing, Ricky, a warrior at the ninth grade of Skin Refinement, managed to withstand the
all-out attack of Nate who was at the first grade of Blood Purification.

Nate did not yet know, but this was the power of the Chaos Manual, the world's most powerful manual!

"Bam!" With a dull thumb, Ricky backed away heavily and left gouges on the ground. But Nate
remained where he stood, unmoving.

However, it was obvious that Ricky had emerged unscathed, except for the invisible pain in his arm.

"How is this possible?" Sean said incredulously at the turn of events.

He hurriedly looked at Nate with anxious eyes, trying to ask what had happened. 'How come Ricky
wasn't hurt after you hit him?'

Avoiding Sean's questioning gaze, Nate could only stare angrily at his cousin, wanting to kill him in the
next round.

But he also had realized that he would never have a chance to carry out his wishes. If he even so much
as tried to make another move, Grace would summon a large number of disciples and together would
stop him.

"So much for your progress these days!" Ricky said contemptuously, shaking his right hand.

Ricky was rejoicing on the inside. He was thoroughly impressed by the Devouring Skills. He did not
expect the Devouring Skill to be so powerful at his first attempt. At least, not to the extent that it would
allow him to stand up to a warrior at the first grade of Blood Purification!

"Why are you still here? Let's go!"

Sean said coolly to Nate, itching to leave. He hopped up onto the Snow Vulture's back.



Nate gave Ricky a sharp look full of hatred and followed.

"Ricky, are you all right?" Grace asked Ricky anxiously.

"Don't worry, Master. I am no longer the underdog Ricky that Nate can bully and kick around!" Ricky
said coldly as he watched the Snow Vulture become a speck in the distance.


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