Ricky defeated Rupert. It meant that he had succeeded in challenging someone three levels above him. He was now a peerless genius.
"Alva, I am a peerless genius now. When will you wake up?" he whispered to himself. Not a long time had passed, but there was an empty, lingering space in his chest. He missed Alva very much.
Images of his father also floated by in his mind. "Where are you, father? Have you heard any news about mother?" Whispering a silent prayer, Ricky let his thoughts wander to those of the ones he loved.
...
"Is it over?"
A sweeping hush fell upon the warriors at the sight of Ricky emerging with his saber.
Were their eyes playing tricks on them? Rupert was among the strongest men they had ever laid eyes on. The very mention of his name was enough to make anyone shudder in fear. In the Water Fire City, his word was law.
But now, this young warrior who had not yet reached the age of maturity had emerged victorious from the battle. It was impossible not to feel stunned at the outcome of the fight.
As the curtain of air and dust dissipated, Rupert finally came into view.
His mangled body lay stretched on a deep pit, his limbs twitching their last spasms. A deep gash ran across his chest and blood pooled from it to the ground like a crimson carpet. There was only the sound of his gasps and sputters as the life drained from him with each second.
Then, there was nothing but stillness from his lifeless form.
Ricky's voice sliced through the awed silence of the people who watched the scene with disbelieving eyes. "Well, your Miraculous Water Orb doesn't seem to have anything special!" he proclaimed, walking to the deep pit.
"I am the winner!" His eyes scanned the crowd, then he pointed to Rupert's body. "And he, Rupert of the Zhen Clan, was just a pathetic loser," Ricky declared.
With this, his days at the Water Fire City had finally come to an end. If nothing else, the Gu Clan would claim rulership over the city, but this did not interest Ricky in the slightest. He was going to leave here.
There was nothing this city could offer for him to improve himself further.
...
Rupert's death meant the impending breaking apart of the Zhen Clan. It would only be a matter of time before other clans would destroy what was left of them.
The Gu Clan's courtyard was lively with joy and excitement, and the name of one young and mighty warrior was on everyone's lips.
...
After the battle, Ricky decided to rest. Not long after, Charlie and his two daughters paid him a visit in his room.
They expressed their gratitude profusely and rewarded him with gold coins and Treasures from Heaven and Earth. At first, Ricky had refused their offerings. The set of Fire Cloud Fist was more than enough for him, but with his hosts' insistence, he relented and accepted some of the coins out of respect.
Knowing that his inevitable departure was coming, the two girls of the Gu Clan felt sadness in their hearts.
"Uncle Charlie, I came from the West Desolate Land. I traveled around to sharpen my skills. Could you tell me what you know about the forces in the Heaven Wood Land? I'm actually heading there," Ricky asked.
It was not his intention to deceive them. All who knew Ricky was aware that he had come from the Snow Land, but if he told them the truth, it would spell nothing but trouble.
"The Heaven Wood Land is the biggest of all lands in the entirety of the realm. No one has scaled its entirety. You said earlier that you came from the West Desolate Land. Perhaps you have also heard of the Earth Fire Land and the Snow Land. All three of these regions have incredibly vast territories but even all of them out together doesn't come close to the Heaven Wood Land," Charlie explained.
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