The legendary warrior novel Chapter 67

"I must admit. Your strength has now reached the peak of the Skin Refinement! But if you want to be the strongest one of the ten outer disciples, you still have a long way to go," Rufus said condescendingly, the atmosphere intensifying with each second.

"Really? Well then, let's see if you can maintain your rank at the top of the ten outer disciples... or not," Ricky responded seriously.

Ricky pulled out his saber from behind, the double forces of fire and ice encapsulating the weapon. At the same time, he had also begun to channel the saber-light in his body.

"Boom!"

Rufus' rising spiritual energy showed blood vitality being released. This sudden development caught the attention of the spectators.

What was happening? Usually only the warriors of Blood Purification could do this!

"This is blood vitality! But Rufus hasn't had a breakthrough to Blood Purification yet! How can it be?" Many disciples said, greatly confused.

"Here's a possibility! Maybe he's in the level between the Skin Refinement and the Blood Purification. It's considered Half-step to Blood Purification." Some inner disciples speculated.

"I'm guessing he intends to breakthrough to Blood Purification after reinstating first place!"

"Well of course, anyone would do that! You know, the reward for winning first place is quite prestigious."

The volume of chatter increased.

"Half-step to Blood Purification! Is this your card up your sleeve?" Ricky asked inquisitively.

"That's none of your business. All you need to know is that it's more than enough to defeat you." Rufus responded with confidence.

He revealed a weapon from the scabbard in his back. Surprisingly, it was a big hammer. This was somewhat uncharacteristic of Rufus. But bearing in mind that Rufus was a casting master, the shape of the weapon was not surprising at all.

"Three hammers of flushing vitality! One to heaven! Two to earth! Three to the universe!"

Surrounded by the endless flushing forces, Rufus leaped high into the air, spinning around rapidly. Then he blasted out three conical shadows.

The first hammer's shadow showed an unclear picture, the second hammer shadow depicted the collapse of heaven and earth, and the last shadow illustrated the collapse of yin and yang.

"Assemble the power!"

Meanwhile, the three shadows fused with his hammer, and then shot up this tremendous power, which then hurtled from the sky towards to Ricky.

"Saber-light!" Ricky summoned his skills, a little worried after seeing Rufus' moves.

Ricky decided he could no longer conceal his true power. Suddenly, physical power, infernal power and frosty power all fused with Ricky's saber under the Devouring Skill, elevating Ricky's saber-light.

Even if Ricky's saber-light was relatively weak, with his regained spiritual meridian and Devouring Skill, it could deflect extremely powerful attacks.

Immediately, Ricky's saber was engulfed with light, and he raised it up into the sky, breathing deeply

"It's the saber-light! I can't believe that he has tapped it! That's amazing!" Some outer disciples remarked upon seeing this unexpected light.

"It seems like he still retained his power. Perhaps I have been too confident," Edgar murmured to himself.

"Even his saber-light is very weak, he can still stand up to a fight with Rufus of Half-step to Blood Purification by his own strength! The outcome of this battle could go any way!" The disciples murmured among themselves.

......

"Boom!"

It was the sound of the collision between saber and hammer. As this happened, the power of the spiritual energy fused with blood vitality and the power of the spiritual energy fused with saber-light also collided.

Both warriors were blasted backwards after this powerful collision. But the moment they had regained their footing, they rushed immediately back at each other again.

The whole arena seemed to be quaking, as if tremors had come from the earth. The power which burst forth each time a warrior had reached to the limit of Skin Refinement made the spectators watch the fight even more attentively. The rigid combat causing many to be unable to sit still.

Rufus was very strong, using his power of Half-step to Blood Purification. While Ricky's force came from merging the Light Apperception with his own power. Therefore, each time they came towards each other, they were evenly matched. The winner could be any of the two.

Many inner disciples in Refinement and Casting Faction shouted encouragement at Rufus. They also wanted Ricky dead, because he posed a big threat to both of their two factions.

......

"Boom!"

With final collision of saber and hammer, the two warriors separated once more, before stopping to stare seriously at each other.

"Ricky, you are the first one who has been able to keep up with me like this, from years of battling many outer disciples. Even if you lose today, you can still be proud of yourself," Rufus yelled, shaking his injured body in preparation for the climax of their combat.

"Well, I must say that you are also the first one who's been able to fight with me in the same level!" Ricky responded, adopting Rufus' tone. "Therefore, even when you lose today, you can also be proud of yourself!"

"You are too arrogant. But you know what? Arrogant people will not live long!" Rufus replied, expressionless.

"I've always been like this, but I'm still alive now aren't I?" Ricky replied with sarcasm.

"Well now, I will show you the real power of a casting master!" Rufus said seriously. This, finally, was the ace up his sleeve.

Ricky grew serious again. He was worried, because he had used up almost all of his skills and moves.

"The manual of flushing tree - Runes hammer of flushing tree!"

Rufus shouted. The spiritual energy of flushing tree on his body rose intimidatingly, surrounding his hammer. Then the warrior gestured boldly with his hands, and a serious of green runes floated out from his chest and settled on his hammer.

The power of the hammer thus increased exponentially, rushing in Ricky's direction.

This may have been only a simple, basic punch - but the power embedded in it completely transcended the Skin Refinement, which was on the same level as the first grade of Blood Purification.

"Is this the power of the manual?" The disciples were unendingly shocked.

"That's right! It must be! The evolution of the manual's power is runes!" Some of the more knowledgeable disciples explained, "Although the manuals can't fight alone, the cultivation method can become more powerful once merged with the manual!"

"That's why the same level of warriors will not be defeated."

"Rufus will win this battle for sure! Only at the ninth grade of Skin Refinement could Ricky stand a chance to win."

The disciples intently discussed the battle.

"The power of the manual! Is this your ace?" Ricky asked, his voice deepening.

Those in the crowd with sharp eyes noticed that his fingers had also been changing...

"This was my ace against warriors in Blood Purification. I didn't expect to use it on you today!" Rufus responded. "But I don't care anymore. As long as I win this battle, it's worth it!"

"Unfortunately for you, I don't want to lose this battle either!" Ricky replied coldly.

"You have the power of manual! Well, you're not the only one!"

Ricky finally erupted, generating a cloud of blood gas. It was not from Blood Purification, but was instead the power that had evolved from Devouring Skill.

After the blood gas had dispersed, glowing scarlet runes also appeared on his body.