"Grace's father, Boris, was of the same clan as mine. Grace's father and I, we were as close as
brothers even without the blood relations that has long faded after numerous years," Ricky hummed in
acknowledgement, realization dawning upon him and soothing his puzzled expression the more Zenith
explained the circumstances.
"So that's why Grace is so 'rude' to me."
"I understand it now," Ricky lightly nodded in affirmation.
"Hurry and get out, explain this to Grace at once! I worry that she'll end up destroying my yard at this
rate!" Zenith glared playfully while Ricky stood still.
"Got it, Chief!"
......
The Blizzard Cliff was situated at the west of the Snow Sect. Much like its name, it was the home to
freezing cold temperatures of breezes emitted by the countless icebergs residing in its region; a frozen
terrain that went on for thousands of miles.
It would have been the same monotonous picture of a barren landscape, if it weren't for the curious
difference of a certain solitary cliff that was visible only to eyes observing from a higher summit. Its
mass was huge; highlighted by the seemingly fathomless abyss that set it apart from the others.
Icy winds burst through the gaping hole every now and then. It enclosed the precipice in tendrils of
wind that pranced around its sphere, triggering the constant shifting of its shape after every passing
moment.
Blocks of ice slid off its smooth surface while some materialized in varying areas to carve its new form;
a majestic and magical scene only to be expected from the Blizzard Cliff.
Despite the enchanting image, the infamous place was known for its ruthless nature. The harsh
environment was infested with poisonous insects and wild beasts that chased away even warriors who
aimed to hone their cultivation base.
No one was safe when placed around the perimeters of the zone. The chasms prevented anyone from
escaping its frightening grip. Only demi-immortals were able to flee, given their overwhelming strength
and power.
And so, the Blizzard Cliff became a dreaded prison for disciples who had committed the gravest and
most unforgivable sins. Their numbers were few; making up only more than ten criminals in all the
history of Snow Sect, with no tales of any exiled individual surviving past a little over half a month at
most.
It was no wonder that the people who had heard of Zenith's tasked excursion for Ricky deemed it as a
mere ploy to kill off the disciple. His expected date of return had been set two months from now; a
nightmare only the bravest fools would wholeheartedly accept.
Ricky had not backed down from the challenge. His mind was already set, even as he took in the
intimidating sight of the cursed plot with watchful eyes. Finally he arrived at the destination with Zenith.
"Ricky, please do remember what I've told you beforehand. If you don't, you'll be reduced to food for
the carnivorous creatures within ten days,"
Zenith's tone spoke of seriousness, his hands clasping Ricky's shoulders in a firm grip.
"Don't worry, Chief. I've already memorized it all in my head,"
Ricky nodded.
"Okay, be prepared. I'll let you go down in a second, I hope I'll see you again in two months' time." With
one last lingering look, Zenith threw Ricky down the steep slope.
He landed with a thud, the biting chill instantly permeating his flesh and seeping inside his bones. The
shivering gusts easily lacerated through the thick material of his clothes, sending tremors to his
unguarded body.
Ricky gritted his teeth at the sudden aggression of the wind and gathered his spiritual energy to block
the cold in haste.
He took further precautions and released his infernal power to ward off the extremities. It was a
successful counter plan. However, it did nothing to alleviate the rising danger he felt in being stuck in
the abysmal ice house.
"Don't forget to go to the Land of Opportunity as soon as possible, Ricky. You cannot stay where you
are currently for a long time. Heed these as my last reminders for you,"
Zenith's solid voice whispered in his subconscious until it eventually vanished with his final farewell.
A grim look passed over Ricky's face, shaking his head slightly in recognition to the words of the man.
He assessed the turf and calculated what he needed to prioritize in his journey.
'I guess the Land of Opportunity will be easy to find. I should stay here for at least three or four days; at
least pretending to go through the motions for Boris and all, '
he thought.
He crunched shards of ice underneath his feet as he made his way to the massive icicles sporting from
the ground.
He remained alert and cautious, his steps light and nimble in preparation for any incoming threat that
may jump on him when he felt the signs of life from a submerged being wriggling beneath the frozen
floor. Pure instinct drove him to pull out his Iron Destroyer and reflexively manifest his three blades of
flame.
Fizz! Fizz!
The heat engulfed their writhing forms until they fell on the land in heaps. Lifeless, with their blood
gushing out in hefty amounts that dyed the soles of his shoes the color of pure ink.
Ricky scanned his eyes over the weltered figures before him, familiarizing himself with their kind.
"The peculiar poisonous insects of the Blizzard Cliff, the Toxic Snow Silkworm…"
he muttered softly.
The beasts were equivalent to a warrior at the intermediate stage of Skin Refinement, but their poison
was to be avoided at all costs. It was incredibly lethal, rendering even a person at the advanced stage
of Bone Refinement to perish under its effects.
He nudged the tip of his blade to the nearest enemy, double-checking to see that they had passed
away. The lack of retaliation prompted him to relax his posture in preparation to leave, but the piercing
cry that echoed throughout the glaciers stopped him in his tracks.
He gripped his saber tightly as a white raptor rushed to ambush him. Its glare pronounced the thirst of
sinking its claws to Ricky's shoulders, hoping that the ambush would be enough to catch him off guard.
"You think I'm a pushover, don't you?"
he exclaimed with a voice rivaling the coldness of terrain. With emotionless eyes, he activated the
Second Degree of Nine-degree Body Refining Formula and leaped high to dodge the foreseen attack.
"Nonuple Flame Strike - the Sixth Strike!"
he called out. Boom!
The six flames collided with the enormous claws of the white raptor in a resounding boom.
It howled in pain, hovering in the sky as it sought out the help of its kin. It had realized that Ricky was
more than it could handle alone.
"Damn it! It's calling its group!"
Cursing, Ricky scampered off to the icicles and coniferous trees, tactically finding a way to fend off the
unwanted pursuers.
It was a good place to block the hostile birds and the Land of Opportunity mentioned by Zenith was
near the forest.
Boom! Exhaling a frustrated breath, he sprinted and hid behind a thick tree trunk. He waited for the
horde of preys to track him until the sound of bulky chunks of falling snow encouraged him to sneak a
peek at the disaster.
It was followed closely by another heavy bellow of collapsing sleet, the noise jolting him in alarm. He
had seemingly evaded the first catastrophe by sheer luck, but the fast pace of condensing ice on the
other side of the crumbling snow
made him recognize the peril he would be soon in if he had continued to stand there idly.
"So this is the Blizzard Cliff… Nevermind two months, with the perpetual pitfalls, I can't even survive for
three or four days!" his eyebrows furrowed in worry.
Not even an hour had passed since his arrival and he had already faced a great number of drawbacks.
He could only imagine what was in store for him in the whole duration of his stay here.
But what Ricky ignored was Elder Logan shown in the sky at this moment.
"Seems like Chief Zenith kept his word - he really did send Ricky to the Blizzard Cliff,"
the judging gaze reflected Elder Logan's overflowing killing intent for Ricky.
"You little bastard, you won't be able to survive the torment,"
he huffed out a short, mocking laugh.
As long as he and Boris kept an eye on those Elders and Zenith, no one could help Ricky out of the
savage field. He would end up dying alone with no one to depend on.
Elder Logan's manic grin had appeared to be permanent the longer he watched Ricky's doomed fate.
With one last glance at the suffering boy, he left the scope in high spirits.
Ricky persevered through the endless assaults of varying barbaric beasts in the following days, just as
what Elder Logan had initially thought and took joy in.
However, it was the unnatural climate that kept Ricky standing on the tips of his toes. The change was
always spontaneous, therefore he could never take a break from the exhausting and suicidal voyage.
Fortunately for him, after the fourth day of unrest, he had found the Land of Opportunity at last.
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