The legendary warrior novel Chapter 111

"Ricky, if you want the Snow Sect to recognize your Misty South Faction, you must ask for our permission first. Otherwise, your faction will be unacknowledged and invalid!"

exclaimed Gennadi and Wyn as they walked into the arena.

After their discussion, Gennadi and Wyn believed that Ricky would accept their condition.

"Ricky, let me do it!" said Autelan softly.

"Thank you for the offer Autelan, but I think that I have to do this myself," said Ricky calmly. He didn't want Autelan to take the risk for him, knowing it was his own battle to fight.

In Ricky's mind, he didn't need anyone's authorization over his faction's approval. He was frustrated at the thought of it. But if he would not do anything, then his faction would become unrecognized. He had the fighting spirit in him, and he would do anything for his faction.

The most infuriating part was that the Misty South Faction needed to get people's approval--even the approval of its enemies.

This was not something as simple as asking for the faction's formality from people. Given that condition, he must deal with it personally.

"Oh, finally. You're here." Gennadi and Wyn sneered after hearing what Ricky had said.

"According to the rules, we need to have a trial of strength to decide whether I am capable to establish a faction. If I remember it correctly, I would be the one to choose how we fight," said Ricky firmly.

"Choose whichever way you want. You are just going beyond your depth if you are no match for us," Gennadi snorted contemptuously.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Victory hangs in the balance," said Ricky coldly.

"Gennadi, since you are the leader of the Casting Faction, I have decided to compete with you on casting. The warrior who makes the most powerful weapon shall be the winner," Ricky added.

Nobody believed on what they had just heard. Did Ricky just ask the leader of the Casting Faction, Gennadi, to a challenge of his niche? All the people present in the square thought that Ricky might have made a terrible decision.

Gennadi, the leader of Casting Faction, was the strongest person in this field. Anyone who would challenge Gennadi in this craft would just be rooting for his own defeat.

Ricky prepared himself for the casting. He read and understood the Chaos Manual, but something important was still missing-- he did not have an integral spiritual meridian. This might pose a problem for his match against Gennadi and the destruction of his faction.

"He must be crazy!" people who were present in the arena whispered.

"Ha-ha, Ha-ha!"

All the disciples of both the Casting Faction and the Refinement faction burst into laughter. Gennadi couldn't believe how audacious Ricky was!

"Grace, I have to say that your disciple Ricky indeed has an exaggerated opinion of his abilities. First he wants to establish a faction. Now he wants to battle with Gennadi on casting! He seems to be overestimating himself!" Sean said to Grace in disbelief.

"Mark my words. He will win!" said Grace confidently.

"Let's just wait and see what happens!" Sean said with a tremendous laugh.

"Ricky. You really have the guts, huh?" said Gennadi.

"But not so fast. I still have one more condition," said Ricky coldly.

"If you win, I will dismiss the Misty South Faction. But if I win, you'll have to dismiss the Casting Faction!" said Ricky in a low and authoritative voice. Silence enveloped the surroundings as Ricky stated his condition. He spoke with such confidence that he would win this fight. Everyone was very surprised to see an underdog challenge a master in such battle.

People looked at Gennadi with anticipation. Everyone was eager to know if he agreed to the challenge at hand. After all, Ricky's conditions were at a high cost. It was all or nothing for the both of them.

Everyone could sense the fear out of Gennadi's pores as he was glued to his position. His hands went cold and his face was indescribable when he heard of what Ricky had said.

Ricky gave a condition with such a high cost. He only wanted what was best for his faction, and he would do everything to achieve recognition. Although he was the leader of the faction, he was not the one who could make such a decision without consulting with the real big shots behind him and the faction.

"What? Are you afraid of me? Or you're just not that confident?" noticing Gennadi's hesitation, Ricky kept asking.

It was Gennadi who asked to have a battle with Ricky, and he must be prepared to pay the price of his invitation.

"Come on, Gennadi. Say yes!" You are a casting master who is close to the intermediate Mortal Level. There is no reason for you to be afraid of him, Gennadi. He is a person with incomplete spiritual meridian," Sean told Gennadi and encouraged him.

His words uplifted Gennadi. Then, Gennadi spoke, "Ricky, it is so stupid of you to choose to battle with me on casting. The only thing I can say is that today your plan to establish the Misty South Faction is doomed to fail."

"Since you said yes, let's do it now!" said Ricky impatiently.

...

The battle was settled. All the casting equipment were prepared in the arena. Ricky and Gennadi would compete for their respective factions. Everyone was at the edge of their seats as to what faction would stay, and which one would go and dissolve.

Ricky and Gennadi prepared fair and square. Both competitors started their preparatory work at the same time.

Ricky planned to cast a knife, while Gennadi prepared to cast a sword.

"Does Ricky really know how to cast a weapon?" many disciples under the arena discussed with each other.

"Maybe he was just playing tricks on Gennadi!"

"But to do something uncertain is not Ricky's style..."

...

The battle commenced and only the sound of hammers pounding metal resonated all throughout the whole arena.

All disciples' attention was on Gennadi. He exuded a very unique aura while he cast his sword. Like the master that he was, he pounded the metal like a natural.

"Now that's what a real casting master looks like!" a warrior from the audience exclaimed in amazement.

But Ricky was not there to fail. Little by little the audience shifted their gaze to Ricky. His casting sound was much more prominent and flawlessly performed than Gennadi's. He was there to slay his opponent.

This was the first time that the audience had ever seen such a unique casting technique from Ricky. His style was unlike any other.

The disciples of Casting Faction, who were familiar with casting method, were all astonished. They were filled with awe upon seeing how Ricky pounded the metal to yield his weapon.

"How could this be? Not only does Ricky know how to cast a weapon, he is also pretty good at it!" they cried out in alarm.

There was one more thing that they did not know about Ricky--he just started to practice casting a few days ago. He practiced no more than twenty times! It was a truly remarkable skill. Ricky was a legend, a genius, and a prodigy.

Sean, Harald and Connie looked sullen all of a sudden.

They saw how outstanding Ricky's technique was and they feared for Gennadi. They weren't able to hide in their faces the disappointment that this challenge might really cause Gennadi's faction to dismiss.

Sweat trickled down from Gennadi's forehead. He felt such immense pressure after seeing Ricky's Pounding Skill. He did not expect greatness from an underdog. After all, who would ever be greater than the master of casting like himself?

Gennadi was distracted.

"Gennadi, do not worry too much. Remember, he might have an edge with his Pounding Skill, but he has no match for your casting ability!" Sean communicated secretly with Gennadi through his internal power.

Gennadi gradually calmed down after hearing what Sean had said. It took away some nerves. 'What I need is focus, ' he thought to himself.

Gennadi channeled every strength of his being into focus. As soon as he reached his peak, he started to dwell into the zone of casting. He was more focused than ever.

Three hours passed, and they both had finished their work.

A knife and a sword.

"Take this. My sword is a weapon close to the intermediate Mortal Level!" said Gennadi confidently as he stared at his weapon.

After hearing what Gennadi had made, all disciples of the Casting Faction and the Refinement Faction gave out wows and applause.

"You are not the judge. Let your sword and my knife speak for themselves!" said Ricky.

"How?" Gennadi asked.

"It's very easy. Let us test our weapons. The first warrior to break his weapon loses. He has to abolish his faction. Remember our deal?" said Ricky.

"Let's to that!"

...

Gennadi and Ricky searched the crowd for two disciples at the intermediate stage of Blood Purification to test out their weapons. The battle between knife and sword would determine the fate of their respective factions.