After the issue with Cole, him being a beast tamer, the event return to normal and battle resumed. The only difference now was that this hopeful youths battle more vigorously, and it could be seen that they were giving their all. It was because they all knew that the Peak Masters were nearby, expectating all of the battle, and they wanted to be noticed by them.

However, as the time passes by, the surrounding change little by little. The present Water Mana in the air get richer and richer, making the place humid. Because of this, those with affinity with water get boosted. The result could be seen immediately as most of the winners had this attribute. This make them delighted.

But this make those with Fire attributes frustrated as due to the great amount of moisture in the air, their abilities decline greatly.

The Peak Masters also felt this subtle changes. Afterall, they were powerful individuals and a little change in the environment could be easily detected by them.

The Peak Masters have different reactions.

The reason they appear in this insignificant event was that they heard from their peak members that a genius appear in this recruitment event. They wanted to personally welcome the said genius in their peak if he has the same affinity like them. However, feeling the changes in the environment and seeing the result, three of the peak masters got frustrated.

Base on this occurence, they knew that the kid had an affinity with water and even if they wanted to accept the kid, they knew that they won't be able to teach the kid to his full potential. It is better for the kid, as well as for the whole sect, to be under someone with great mastery with water arts.

A great smile could be easily seen with Master Dew right now. He truly stumbled a great treasure this time.

Attracting the surrounding water mana is not Ricky's original idea; it was Cole's.

The moment Cole return to his seat after his great issue, he immediately instructed Ricky to attract the surrounding water mana as he thought that the kid will have a great boost with his strength.

Fortunately, doing this was just a piece of cake for Ricky. He only have to start his meditation and the avaible water mana in the surrounding would automatically attracted.

When he thought what is the most nearest reason, he knew that it was most likely the combination of Ricky's Water Spirit Body and his Water Dragon-Martial Spirit.

With those two, Ricky is a real genius with water arts.

Sometimes later, those with strength of Seventh-Level Mana Gathering-Stage started to dominate the stage.

A great number of people now occasionally look at where Cole and Ricky was, they wanted to see the capability of the shining star of this event.

However, as time passes by, the kid still continue his cultivation. This make the others felt shock. They thought that the kid have a high chance to pass if he battle two opponent in the same level, but looks like the kid intended to battle a Eight-Level Mana Gathering-Stage.

Goodness!

As a person get old, his experience also got plenty, added with the difference of level; the kid had a high chance to to lose.

The spectators can't help but anticipate the upcoming battle.

"Eight-Level Mana Gathering-Stage." Stated of the guy seriously who climbed on the stage several minutes later.

This time, Ricky finally open his eyes. He smiled at his big brother, stand-up and walk towards the stage.

The kid really wanted to battle an Eight-Level Mana Gathering-Stage! Eventhough they were already expecting this, it still give them quite a shock.

If the kid got defeated, his reputation and value would slightly decrease. But if he defeat his opponent, then he'll be like soaring the vast heaven! The sect would definitely nurture him without sparing the effort!

Ahhh!

Pills, weapons, equipments, techniques...

All of those will be available to him without an effort! How great would that be?

"I'll battle y-you," Ricky stammered. He was just a normal villager kid few months ago, and being the center of attraction by a big crowd left him flustered. He was not yet used to it.

Ricky's opponent just nodded his head. Then they started to create some distance.

Ricky's opponent retrieved a long rod in his back. It was his main weapon. It's a spear but since the sect didn't allow killing, he removed its spearhead.

Seeing the opponent bring out his weapon, the crowd look at Ricky. It was known that weapon were a great addition to someone's strength, however, several seconds later, the kid still didn't brought out any weapon.

Goodness! Don't tell them that this kid intended to battle without weapon? Is he one of those geniuses that were too conceited with themselves?

Even Master Dew can't help but frown. Between those with weapon and with not, the person with weapon had the high chance to win. But no matter, he was adamant on taking this kid as his personal disciple. So even if he lose this battle, it won't change his mind, but if he managed to win... He felt that his eyes would definitely sparkle if it happen.

Seeing Ricky doesn't have the intention of bringing his weapon out, the state judge finally said, "Begin."

Ricky's opponent instantly executed his movement technique and thrust forward, intending to close the distance between him and Ricky. The guy was a very serious person, treating the kid as a real opponent and not just some talented brat. He immediately exploded with his full strength.

"I like this kid." Master Terrano commented at Ricky's opponent, in the dark while the other Peak Masters nodded in approval. "He don't overestimate his self, specially with the age difference. God knows how many died just becuase the underestimate their opponent just becuase they look like kid or an old person." He added.

Before the his battle begin, Ricky was already formulating his strategy in his seat. Since he had the intention of battling someone more powerful than him, he knew that his eyes most likely can't keep up with his opponent's speed, just like what happen with his battle with the Saw-Teeth Lake Crocodile. So planned to close his eyes and see using the water mana, again, in the surrounding.

His strategy was the same when he battle the Saw-Teeth Lake Crocodile.

So when the battle began, he immediately will the surrounding water mana to his battle platform. Due to this, the battle platform started to look misty.

However, Ricky's opponent remain calm. Although he saw the forming mist, he didn't give it any mind at all. His main priority was to shorten their distance where his long stick could reach an attacking distance. And eventhough his opponent had his eyes remain close, he still continue without putting his guard down.

Several seconds later, the kid finally made a move. His hands move up, rotate his fingers three times which made the surrounding clear as the mist were thinning out, close his fist, and finally hammering his closed fist down. All of those little gestures look simple, yet his instinct, which saved him for countless time, told him a great danger. He stop instantly and immediately backtrack. And when he saw what the danger was, he sucked a deep mouthful of air in shock.

In his front, a two sword made entirely of water only had their upper half visible as the other half were stabbed on the ground. If those sword hit him, he'll get fatally injure, if not dead. Without a protecting armor, although his body was strong compare to non-cultivators, he knew it won't be far from sturdiness of the solid ground.

Fortunately, the kid doesn't have the intention to kill as the two swords were stabbed a little far from his last position.

Ricky sigh in relief. His main purpose for that attack was to stop his opponent from his track. Base on his experience on this last few months, he do not excelled in close combats due to his lack of techniques. His Free Water Bending skill might be great, but his fighting style were like a range attack at the moment. He knew that if his opponent close the distance between them, he'll lose his advantage.

While his opponent stop for a moment, it gave time for his technique to form more weapons made of water. But this time, it didn't mainly compose of swords, it also had a dagger this time. This make his water weapon plenty in number.

If he form only a water swords, with the avaible amount of water, he'll most likely to form only a maximum of ten. But with his new idea, although the sword was reduce to five but it added a ten daggers.

A sword was equivalent to two daggers when form.

With his previous experiment, just like a normal sword, a water sword deal a great amount of damage than the water daggers but the latter had a great speed than the former. Although the water dagger deal a less damage than the water sword, but it has a great speed and flexibility.

In theory, if the water sword slash for one time, then the water dagger already slash for two or three times.

Ricky then started to command and resume on attacking his opponent, having the intention to drive the other one out of the stage.

Ricky's opponent saw the water weapons float fast towards him and when he check Ricky, he saw a strain on his face. There and then, he knew that this kind of great and powerful attack put a great toll to the user. And since there are many water weapons, the energy consumption must be quite big. He knew that he only need to exhaust his enemy's energy to win.

He then started to fuse some of his energies towards his long stick. Swirling winds started to appear on his weapons body.

He's a cultivator with wind affinity and they do not excell in anything but speed. With the support of the wind energy, his attacks gets a lot faster.

When the water weapons arrived near him, he started to deflect it that looks like he did it with ease.

He didn't need to overpower the water weapons attack because in the first place, he was still powerful than the kid. And no matter how great the water weapons attack, it's still limited as it was drived from spiritual force not the strength of the body and arms.

Ricky's face started to contort when he saw his attacks being useless. If he don't change his attack now, he'll probably run out of energy. He give up his attack and return the water weapons into mist.

Master Dew look at Ricky with concern. The kid's attacking power and style were great. If he happen to encounter other Eight-Level Mana Gathering-Stage cultivator on the stage, he knew he'll definitely win. However, his current opponent were both talented and skillful, added with the wind energy and long stick, the guy definitely outmatched him. He wanted to instructed Ricky to stop and conserve his energy for other enemies when a new sight appear that gave him a shock of his life.

Is that... a M-Martial Spirit...?

An outline of a long, water snake appear on the kid's head, or so he see. His position were quite far, plus the Martial Spirit body were almost transparent, he thought of it just some sort of water snake. But no matter, it was still a Martial Spirit! Even if it was just some grass, it'd still be great!

Ricky's opponent felt a great threat when the Martial Spirit were revealed. No matter what, those with Martial Spirits were a genius among genius. But his fighting spirits didn't faltered, if anything, it was ignited even more.

He won't back down without a fight!

He finally used his movement technique, [Wind Dash Technique]! Swirling winds appear on his heels which propelled him forward, increasing his speed in large margin. It looked it was doubled!

Wind cultivators doesn't have a great number of offensive and defensive technique but their movement technique were plentiful!

Seeing the approaching opponent, Ricky remain calm. A powerful jaw and saw-like teeth of Saw-Teeth Lake Crocodile can't even put even a dent to his defensive skill!

"[Water Dragon Martial Spirit : Abyss Turtle Shell Defense]!" He chanted and the water dragon on top of his head cry without sound.

A turtle shell made entirely of water envelope Ricky.

Ricky's opponent didn't slow down, if anything, he increased his speed even more. Defensive technique were great, but they were not unbreakable. He just have to generate enough attack power to shatter the technique!

Unfortunately, Wind Cultivators were not known for their strength. The probability of him shattering the shell were low.

But this was the reason he's increasing his speed even more! It was the common tactics of them. Increasing their damage output using momentum!

Peng! Krkk..

A sound rangout when the stick collided with the turtle shell, along with something breaking.

However, when they check what happen, they were shocked.

The turtle defense were perfectly fine but the stick now had a crack on its head that collided with the protection.

Ricky smile triumphantly. He was confident with the protection of [Abyss Turtle Shell Defense].

"[Water Dragon Martial Spirit : Sea Dragon's Roar]!" Ricky chanted once more.

Water started to collect again until ot form a shape of snake with horn; a dragon!

The moment it appear, the crowd, as well as the Peak Masters, can't help but have their mouth wide open in shock.

Ricky's opponent smile wryly. He was stubborn, yes, but he's not stupid. An attack like this, he have no way to block it, much less counter-attack.

He quietly step out from the stage. He have to conserve and recover his energy for other battle.

Ricky sigh. He scatter the water and unreleased his Martial Spirit.

He then smile and walk towards where his big brother was without waiting for the unrecovered judge's call.