The legendary warrior novel Chapter 104

A shocking swell of greenery filled the landscape, its overgrown weeds curling around tall and broad shafts of cone-bearing trees that significantly made up most of the topography. It was a stark contrast to the lifeless cold that pervaded the rest of the Blizzard Cliff; snow and ice showed no signs of accumulating and destroying the growing foliage with their heavy debris.

Ricky almost collapsed in relief upon arriving at the revitalizing view.

He was understandably ragged. His clothes were torn and barely hanging on as cover to his almost naked self. It failed its purpose as a meager attempt to fill him with warmth against the harshness of the perpetual winter. The force of roaring flame inside his body became the driving source in keeping his temperature within normal levels.

He had spent three whole days in the Blizzard Cliff, and in that short span of time, all he could do was run for his life.

Perseverance and stubbornness were the traits that saved him countless of occasions in the face of the never-ending dangers he had to go through.

The fierce predators lurking the unmanned grounds possessed a potency that were unmatched by most. They would have certainly been Boris' first suspects if Ricky were to disappear without a trace after his two-month excursion.

Fortunately for Ricky, he had survived and was now about to enter the Land of Opportunity Zenith had advised him to seek with haste.

He rushed to cross the threshold, fully aware that he could not stand another minute idling in the Blizzard Cliff any longer.

"There are so many coniferous trees and weeds! This must be the place where Chief Zenith called the Land of Opportunity!" Ricky muttered as he looked around in awe.

He twirled in a slow, full circle, quietly observing the scene before him until his eyes caught sight of a stone tablet nearly obscured by its surrounding shrubs. He approached it and bended a knee to read the inscribed text: The Dwelling of Fire and Ice.

A tiny narrow hole was situated on the right side of the plague, seemingly able to accommodate the size of only one individual.

"That's right. I've come to the right location!" Ricky beamed, unable to contain his excitement.

Zenith had told Ricky that the Dwelling of Ice and Fire was the birthplace of the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula.

Legend had told time and time again, that a strong warrior without the spiritual meridian had once wandered in the Dwelling of Fire and Ice and honed his skills to an extent that led him to create the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula. Ricky stumbling upon the origins of the famous tale paved a great opportunity for him to grasp. As long as he had great comprehension skills, he would definitely evolve his Nine-degree Body Refining Formula by leaps and bounds inside this Dwelling of Fire and Ice.

Ricky exhaled as he steadied himself in preparation to walk in the narrow passageway.

The entrance was restricting, and so Ricky had not expected that the tunnel would eventually grow wider in size as he moved along. Its surprisingly well-lit

space was covered in sleet. An analogy that confused Ricky, given the increasing warmth emanating deep inside the grotto that soon permitted him to diffuse the force of roaring flame keeping him from the shivering cold outside.

"How is it so warm here?"

he mused.

"It's called the Dwelling of Fire and Ice... Maybe there's fire inside?"

he treaded further until he noticed in passing that the burrow had started to move downwards. A change in the atmosphere was also felt as the humidity rose higher the more he traveled to its core.

After six hours, he had finally arrived at the end of the tunnel.

The extensive flat ground had an approximate range of one hundred meters. It was divided into sections where two opposing elements engulfed their own regions.

On his right, lay blocks of glittering and translucent Magic Ice. Its age was unfathomable to mere scrutiny, but the aura it exhibited spoke volumes of its ancient history encompassing at least the past ten thousands of years.

Parallel to it was the sporadic, crimson magma that churned and boiled with the threat of its intensity having the ability to vaporize Ricky in a flash.

He would have been pronounced dead from the scalding incandescence of the lava or the gripping gelidity of the Magic Ice if he were only exposed to one of the constituents. It was a blessing for him, that their drastic differences created a neutralized and habitable environment.

"Incessant Crimson Magma and Myriad Magic Ice! This is exactly the place where cultivation method like the Nice-degree Body Refining Formula can be created. The Dwelling of Fire and Ice truly lives up to its reputation.

Together with the help of the Devouring Skill, this kind of setting would surely allow me to refine my Nine-degree Body Refining Formula to the Fifth Degree within two months," Ricky feverishly ranted to himself in delight. He could see that his goal was now attainable and was overjoyed at the fact.

"That kind of power would be enough for me to reign over warriors of all grades in the Blood Purification. I would have no more qualms in facing combatants of the low-stage Bone Reinforcement either,"

he smiled, his confidence swelling as he began his refining process. However, it was no painless task. Ricky could not stop the tremors from permeating his body from the agony racking his bones.

Ricky gritted his teeth in defiance; he had no plans of retreating and wasting all the time he had spent out in the wilderness. With renewed vigor, his muscles strained as he started to utilize the Third Degree of the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula, and walked to the center of the expanse where the conflicting ambience meshed. He sat with his legs crossed and closed his eyes.

Ricky urged the Devouring Skill, consuming the infernal power from the Incessant Crimson Magma, and the frost power from the Myriad Magic Ice to initiate his refinement.

He grunted and screamed at the aggravating suffering the two components caused him. The thick sinews and veins of his form bulged in protest to the writhing of the clashing forces battling inside him.

......

His stay passed quickly with him not relenting from his harsh and taxing procedure of refinement.

In two months, Ricky had met his expectation of achieving the Fifth Degree of the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula. He had also broke through the next stage of cultivation as a result of his arduous training, and had reached the fifth grade of Blood Purification.

He had become more energetic compared to his prior self at the start of his journey. His breakthrough of the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula granted him a growth in height of about 5.9 ft., while even his invisible vital energy and spirit were replenished and uplifted.

Ricky could not stop the grin from spreading on his lips. He even believed that the overwhelming strength he wielded at present could easily smash a mountain in one blow.

"I have been here for two months now, the Chief must already be here to take me back," Ricky said.

Hesitation stopped him from leaving immediately as he glanced back at the Incessant Crimson Magma and the Myriad Magic Ice.

He frowned, knowing that he could not let Zenith take him to this Dwelling of Fire and Ice every time he wanted to polish himself. If he were to come back repeatedly, Boris would undoubtedly find out about the Dwelling of Fire and Ice too.

'What if I try the Devourer Zone?' Ricky thought.

His eyes widened in discovery, instantly tested out his theory, and urged the Devourer Zone. In an instant, a lake of magma appeared in his possession.

He directed it to the Magic Ice next until he had effectively stored parts of both elements away in the Devourer Zone.

Lucky for him, the Devourer zone contained an enormous space that could fit the desired subjects in it with ease.

Content filled him as Ricky reminded himself to use what small portion he took for his own benefit in the future. After all, if he had tried to extort all its power, he would unnecessarily make radical changes to the Blizzard Cliff.

"I will come back again!"

Ricky swore, casting one last stare behind him before he proceeded to move out of the cavern.

......

The sky of the Blizzard Cliff became a domain to its busy visitors. This time, not only Zenith had come, but also Boris and the other nine Elders who had been waiting for Ricky's return.

"Chief, our minds have searched the Blizzard Cliff for almost ten times. There's not even a shadow of Ricky in sight; he must've died here." Boris dramatically mourned, "Even the real peak warriors in the Blood Purification are not capable of staying here for half a month."

His eyes betrayed his supposed sincerity upon delivering the news. A little boy like Ricky, who's maximum skill matched a seven-stage warrior in the Blood Purification, would have absolutely perished after two months in the Blizzard Cliff.

His barely concealed sneers were shared by the others. Elder Logan, Elder Ronald and Elder Harris all sported a faint smirk; sharing the same mindset as him.

Only Elder Evan and the rest truly cared for Ricky's well-being.

Ricky was the only disciple in the Snow Sect who could cultivate the Nine-degree Body Refining Formula after a thousand years. As of now, a random disciple name Phil caused this plight. Coupled with the knowledge that Ricky could have passed away by now, they were all driven with bitter resentment in their hearts.

Zenith did not care of this matter and concentrated his mind on the area of the Dwelling of Fire and Ice.

A trace of a smile appeared on Zenith's mouth after a brief moment at his findings. His spiritual energy started to surge, much to the group's surprise, and transformed into a huge hand that darted towards its targeted direction.

It returned at once and released Ricky's figure;

rendering all the elders dumbfounded and in a state of disbelief.