Without thinking twice, Ricky immediately activated his six zones to refine and absorb the pure fighting
energy. Surely, he could take his time doing this job because he managed to kill this beast in a short
time, which left him enough time to do the afterward work. Not all the warriors could defeat the beast
with a single blow.
Ricky estimated that the first test would take at least three days. Now, he thought that this would give
him enough time to refine and absorb his freshly-obtained pure fighting energy.
His six zones helped him a lot and made him finish this work more quickly.
Ricky's fighting abilities were constantly being improved with the help of his zones. Meanwhile, the
power of his zones also increased accordingly. It was said that the improvement of fighting abilities
heavily relied on one's cultivation base and realm. With that being said, it was essential for a warrior to
enhance their cultivation bases and realms.
In other words, one could compare cultivation base to a filled balloon. If a warrior only focused his
resources on improving his strength and ignored to enhance his cultivation base, just like a balloon
filled to the tip, the latter would explode. The warrior's body would explode due to excess energy that
his body could no longer hold.
Meanwhile, Ricky was trying his best to absorb the fallen powerful warriors' martial arts experience
inside the pure fighting energy. The said martial arts experience inside the pure fighting energy in the
arena was left by the warriors at the Sage Level and Potentate Level.
Ricky believed that he would have a better understanding of martial arts and it would be easier for him
to make progress and enhance his strength as long as he could learn a thing or two from the said
martial arts experience.
Apart from that, Ricky had also spent time understanding the king's inheritance to cultivate the illusion
power.
At that moment, his six zones and the Shadowy Replication helped him so that he could multitask and
be more efficient.
Meanwhile, the fight on the first arena was a complete tragedy because after three days of fighting, half
of the warriors had been eliminated, for they did not have the capacity to defeat the beasts.
This competition was held to select Paul's successor. But his will had changed the rules. Now, once a
warrior admitted defeat, he would be teleported out of the arena and out of the competition according to
the new rules.
If the rule remained the same, then those warriors who had been defeated would instantly turn to
ashes.
'Damn! The competition is so fierce! Half of the competitors have already been knocked out. I wonder
how many would pass the first test and face the second,' Ricky could not help but think to himself.
Those who would move on to the second test also shared the same sentiments as him.
In fact, the relatively weak ones among them prayed fervently that they could pass the second test so
that they could acquire more fighting energy.
However, luck was not on their side this time. As it turned out, each of the beasts that they were about
to slay had the strength of a middle spiritual emperor.
Not long after, Ricky and the other warriors entered the second arena, ready to take the second test.
After fifteen minutes, most of them had gotten knocked out of the competition in this round.
But Ricky didn't care about those who got eliminated. At that moment, only one thing ran through his
mind, and it was to strike down the beast as soon as possible so that he could have more time to refine
the pure fighting energy.
As a matter of fact, it was definitely a little rash for him to keep refining the energy in a short period of
time so intensively. Despite Ricky having six zones, this quick refinement could result in weakening
himself or other side effects that could have adverse impacts on his future cultivation.
He was aware of the ramifications, but he had no other choice but to do it.
If he really wanted to acquire Paul's inheritance, he would have to face the top ten geniuses of the
outer region, sooner or later. He had to grow stronger quickly because, at this point, it was impossible
for him to defeat the top ten geniuses given his current strength.
As for the problems that he would face about his future cultivation, he thought that it would be best if he
tried to solve them after he got Paul's inheritance.
Meanwhile, the fight in the second test had lasted for five days.
At the same time, the news about this very ancient arena and Paul's inheritance had spread throughout
the entire Middle Land. As a result, there was an increasing number of warriors at the Sage Level that
had gathered outside of the ancient battlefield. Surely, all the forces and the powerful warriors headed
there due to immense curiosity.
These warriors came here for one reason—they wanted to see who would be so lucky to get their
hands on Paul's inheritance. Actually, they strongly felt that it would be a waste if the inheritance of the
most powerful warrior in ancient times would fall into the hands of a genius from the outer region.
The Sage Level warriors from the outer region became angry upon hearing what the warriors from the
inner region had to say. However, they were not able to do anything because these saints were out of
the latter's league.
Soon after, Ricky entered the third test. Once he got there, he noticed that his opponent was a lion
made of fighting energy. Scrutinizing the beast, he found out that it had the strength that was close to
that of a one-star middle spiritual emperor at the intermediate stage.
"Take this as an opportunity. Don't end the fight too soon. Take your time and fight with this beast. I'm
sure that it will help you consolidate your power and realm," the Dragon Intent Grass advised.
"Sure. I'll do that. Thanks," Ricky responded as his eyes narrowed at the beast with much focus.
Listening to the Dragon Intent Grass, Ricky fought against the beast head-on. A day after, he felt that
his fighting power had increased, and his realm and strength had been more stable.
'Surely, fighting is really the best way to improve my strength and realm. But this is a bit dragging. It's
taking too long. I need to end this now.
I can't beat the one who ranks first in the top ten geniuses if I continue to fight the beast here,' Ricky
told himself silently.
Afterwards, Ricky gathered all his strength and managed to defeat the beast after ten grueling strikes.
Soon after, he continued to refine the pure fighting energy.
The third test lasted for eleven days.
Finally, after days of combat, only thirteen people would move on to the fourth test.
Among the thirteen people, ten of them were geniuses from the outer region, two were Ricky and
Mordechai, and the last one was a mysterious man clad in black.
All the warriors knew the ten geniuses of the outer region, and most of them also knew Ricky and
Mordechai. But none of them could identify the man in black, not even those Sage Level warriors
outside the ancient battlefield.
However, when they got into the next round, they didn't see any beast made of fighting energy.
That would only mean one thing—their opponents were no longer the beasts. In a flash, each of them
entered an independent Combat Space.
"Congratulations! You've made it this far. One of you will become Paul's successor. Good luck to you
all! The last test is about overcoming yourselves and your River of Time. Only the one who defeats
yourself and your River of Time could be recognized by Paul.
Last but not least, if you fail to admit defeat before you are about to lose, death will be upon you!"
Paul's will instructed.
In an instant, a mysterious force appeared in the Combat Spaces where the thirteen warriors were.
Soon after, a river emerged in front of them. The river was not made of water, but of an invisible force.
As it turned out, the mysterious power they sensed came from the river.
"If I'm guessing it right, this river is the River of Time, and the mysterious power inside it is the power of
time," the Dragon Intent Grass remarked.
"So, this is the power of time. This is the first time I've seen and sensed it. Let's see what it can do,"
Ricky said seriously as his fighting spirit rose swiftly.
At the same time, an unidentified figure started to come out of the river.
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