The legendary warrior

"Could it be... Is that the runic power?! How is it possible!?" Everyone's jaw had dropped. They were stunned, eyes opening wide, when they saw Ricky's sudden change. Rufus felt the same. Zenith and the other four elders on the dais were shocked as well. But because they were warriors with the most knowledge and experience, they kept their composure and did not reveal their shock.

The runic power came from the casting manual. Only a warrior with an extraordinary spiritual meridian would have been capable enough to practice the manual. It would have been much too overwhelming for an ordinary warrior! If an ordinary warrior foolishly tried to force his way to practice a manual, it would end up backfiring on him. It was true that there were many cultivation methods which could be practiced without a spiritual meridian. However, no manual could ever, ever be practiced without a spiritual meridian. It was one of the most basic conditions!

Yet what was it that they had just witnessed? They saw the power of the manual emerging from Ricky, a warrior without a spiritual meridian! That was too unbelievable. Could they still trust their eyes? Mix feelings surged among the crowd: shock, disbelief, jealousy, admiration.

But Ricky did not originally want to reveal the runic power he owned. He was supposed to keep it hidden, as a strategy.

However, the reward for the number one outer disciple was too tempting for him to give up. He had no other way but to reveal his true strength. He wanted to have it no matter what, because if he missed this chance, it was quite likely that he would fall behind in the martial arts world, and be banished from the circle of strong warriors. That was an unacceptable option for him. After everything he had gone through, he understood by now that the world was a jungle and there was a law; the winner took it all, and the devil took the rest. He had big plans, for himself, for his father. Everything he worked for could not go to waste.

Everyone thought that he did not have a spiritual meridian and could not master this power from the manual. Ricky did not want to reveal to the public that he had regained a spiritual meridian for the time being. Fortunately, he was quick-witted enough and had come up with an excuse. Whether they believed it or not was out of his hands.

As the scarlet runes came together, the strong power accumulated in the long saber, fusing with saber-light. Ignoring the shocked faces of the crowd, Ricky focused on activating his internal strength, raised the saber high, and hacked at Rufus's big hammer.

Rufus had kept his wits about him, despite the shock. He was sober-minded enough and waved his hammer in defense from Ricky's attack.

But to Rufus's surprise, Ricky's scarlet runes were much too powerful.

The moment their weapons collided, those scarlet runes spread like a virus over the hammer and ate up all the other runes on it.

Because of this, the power from the runes on the hammer drained immediately, leaving only Rufus's spiritual energy.

Everything that happened next took place in what felt like a natural and inevitable order of events. Ricky's saber, carrying the scarlet runes and the spiritual energy, vanquished the hammer. The hammer knocked into the air and finally fell down onto the ground, a shell of its past glory.

Alarmed and frightened, Rufus hurriedly prepared himself, exerting the last of his remaining strength in a futile attempt to resist Ricky's malevolent attack. But Ricky formed the Whiz Fist, hitting Rufus right in the center of his chest.

"Pah!" Blood flew out of Rufus's mouth as he fell to the ground heavily, thoroughly incapacitated.

Ricky had not given his full strength when he threw that punch. He had no desire to kill Rufus. All he wanted was to win the first place, after all.

A second earlier, they had been staring at the scarlet runes on Ricky's saber. But in

that be? That's incredibly fast!" some disciples

the number one outer disciple! How could I have lost this fight!? How could I have lost to

the longest time, he had ranked first among the outer disciples. Everyone who had come to challenge him ended up in failure. It

defeat you, and become number one among

cheater!" screamed Rufus angrily.

please! He cheated! He doesn't have a spiritual meridian and yet he employed the runic power! You know that's impossible for him! You know what's required to be able to conquer the power

Zenith and the other four elders in

Rufus. They looked at Ricky and the

the elders stopped them. They were extremely confused as well.

you lost! The number one outer disciple? My ass!" Ricky said scornfully to Rufus. Then he turned to face

think I have a spiritual meridian," Ricky explained calmly. "However, that's not the

you mean by that, Ricky? Explain

is that I did have a spiritual meridian. But it was destroyed by the Nan Clan," Ricky explained. "However, the

piece of

possible for me to be able

"Oh, my God!"

Only a piece of

the spiritual meridian?" The crowd started

How wretched you are! What a splendid excuse!" Rufus bitterly

to him. He just remained silent, still facing the elders.

called out to

Elder Evan asked, attempting to verify Ricky's statement.

men stood up,

Yes, Elder Evan! We are," they answered

it true? Did he really have a spiritual meridian before?" asked Elder Evan.

did not dare lie to the elders. The consequences for that were