Laughing, Ricky took out the jade slip he had prepared in advance. It contained all the information
recorded in the Chaos Manual.
"Sir, here is the casting manual I'm practicing—the Chaos Manual!"
he intoned as he held out the jade slip.
"The Chaos Manual, named after the so-called chaos which contains everything. What an intimidating
name!"
the Casting Ladder sighed upon hearing the name of the manual. Since it was a supreme weapon, the
Casting Ladder could see the innermost working of things with just a superficial glance. So when it
heard the name of the Chaos Manual, it immediately understood how Ricky had gotten so incredible in
casting. He even surpassed the strongest genius of the Short Human tribe.
After the Casting Ladder took the jade slip, a deluge of information poured into Ricky's Soul Sea.
"This is for you, the casting manual of the Helian Clan—the Ancestor Divine Manual!"
explained the Casting Ladder. "However, this is only a quarter of the complete version. As you know,
aside from the Helian Clan, the Short Human tribe is composed of three more clans.
The other three quarters are in the hands of the remaining three clans."
"I understand,"
replied Ricky, nodding.
He already knew that, of course, since the Short Human tribe was quite famous. It was composed of
the four strongest clans, and each of them held a quarter of the casting manual of the tribe.
"Ricky, why do I feel like you got shafted in this deal?"
the Evil Mandragora remarked. "You only received a quarter of the Ancestor Divine Manual, while the
Casting Ladder acquired the complete Chaos Manual."
"Don't worry. It may only be a quarter of the manual, but it is already a great deal for me,"
Ricky reassured her. "And besides, the Casting Ladder helped me become a casting master at the
Sage Level, and I consider that the ultimate harvest.
Oh, and by the way, I have one more ace up my sleeve. You see, my Chaos Manual is connected to
my spiritual meridian and zones. And it is only when the spiritual meridian and zones exist together can
an individual truly comprehend the Chaos Manual.
That means no matter how talented the members of the Short Human tribe are, they could never
surpass my understanding of the Chaos Manual. However, I can surpass them on the Ancestor Divine
Manual."
"So that's why you are willing to give the Chaos Manual to the Casting Ladder just like that!"
Only at this point did the Dragon Intent Grass and the Evil Mandragora understand Ricky's actions.
Afterward, Ricky bade farewell to the Casting Ladder, entered the Massacring Zone, and left.
"Can this young man be the casting genius who will eventually surpass the Short Human tribe?"
the Casting Ladder murmured to itself. "I hope that someday, this experience will help him see the
Short Human tribe in a friendly light. After all, my hunch is always right."
Three days later, the third round finally began.
This round was much easier than the second one because this round only involved testing one's
casting talent and casting capability.
Most even considered the second round as the real competition.
Among the Helian Clan's treasures was a divine drum that could test casting talent and casting
capability.
It served as the centerpiece of the square, with a height of three meters and a width of two meters. At
this point, all the participants and warriors who came to watch had already gathered around it.
The drum was a reddish-yellow color peppered with circles all over its body, from the center to its
outermost part. A closer inspection revealed exactly one hundred circles.
As for the test, the participants would take turns in hitting the drum with their strongest runic power,
which it would then absorb. Then, the drum would glow according to the participants' casting talent and
casting capability. The stronger the participants were in terms of casting, the more circles would glow
up.
If a participant's strike could light a hundred circles, the drum would make a sound, and the circles
would shine again.
In other words, the higher the casting talent and casting capability of a participant, the more the drum
would sound and more circles would glow.
"So this is a test of casting talent and casting capability, huh? Interesting!"
Ricky murmured.
A few moments later, Kamari arrived. His eyes flew towards Ricky and remained glued on him. The
sharp killing intent in his eyes made chill crawl up Ricky's spine.
That look indicated how much Kamari hated Ricky.
But despite the resentful air that Kamari radiated, Ricky didn't shy away from him. Instead, he showed
his resistance through his momentum.
A thick tension settled between the two of them, and it was so obvious that even the surrounding
warriors could feel it.
"Will Ricky surpass Kamari today and become the new number one casting genius in the Misty South?"
The warriors around them erupted into a flurry of whispers.
"Those two ended up in a draw last round. That shouldn't happen today, right?"
"I doubt it. After all, no two people's casting talent can be the same, and the drum can detect even the
smallest sliver of difference."
"Well, let's wait and see. Can you imagine the look on those members of the Short Human tribe if Ricky
wins first place? It's no wonder Wayne took Ricky as his teacher."
"So many things have changed since Ricky came here."
"Prepare yourself, Ricky! Today, I will prove that the Short Human tribe will always reign supreme in
terms of casting, and I will always be the best!"
Kamari declared with all confidence using his telepathy, and his tone was imbibed with strong killing
intent.
"We will let the results speak!"
Ricky firmly countered, not letting the other man intimidate him.
He believed in his skills, and he intended to take the title of the number one casting genius.
As soon as Elder Graysen and the saints arrived, the third round began.
Two more elders of the Helian Clan also came to watch, and both were also in the discussions the last
time. One was Elder Deacon, and the other was Elder Calhoun.
Elder Calhoun was an old lady that Ricky didn't recognize.
On the other hand, Ricky knew Elder Deacon well. He was Wayne's grandfather.
So as soon Elder Deacon spotted Ricky, his eyes bore holes into the other man, and his killing intent
rippled around him like a wave. Out of everyone in the Helian Clan, it was Elder Deacon who hated
Ricky the most. That was understandable since Wayne was his favorite grandson.
He had high expectations for the young man. And Wayne had not let him down and had become one of
the top casting geniuses of the Helian Clan, much to his pride and delight.
Elder Deacon also intended to have Wayne take over his position someday.
But all these dreams had gone up in smoke. Ricky had spoiled all his plans. If it weren't for his position
as an elder, the other members of the clan would have called for Wayne to be executed.
Despite his great hatred, Elder Deacon didn't say anything to Ricky.
'Wayne is my disciple and my friend. I need to save him, '
Ricky thought to himself, his determination strengthening his resolve, even as he felt Elder Deacon's
hateful glare.
"The third round begins now! The 100th disciple, step forward!"
Under Elder Calhoun's and Elder Graysen's watchful gazes, the short man in charge announced the
beginning of the third round.
Starting from the 100th place, the disciples participating in the competition approached the side of the
drum in succession.
When the disciple bombarded the divine drum with his runic power, it rang three times and twenty
circles shone.
"Three sounds! Not bad! The highest recorded done by the Short Human tribe's casting geniuses under
the age of three hundred is seven sounds," a warrior commented after hearing the third sound.
"Even the 100th disciple, the least powerful of all the participants, can make the drum ring three times!
The Short Human tribe is indeed filled with the best casting geniuses in the whole Misty South."
"If the last disciple can make three sounds, I wonder how many more Ricky and Kamari can make. Will
they break the previous record?"
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