On the way to the Nascent mountain, Ace was occupied with utilising the system's ability to build everything necessary in advance, including his personal apartment with Charlotte.
It was a simple apartment only slightly better than that of the dwellings his sect disciples and elders lived in, but it was more than enough for him and Charlotte.
Along the way, the three new members of the Nirvana sect kept asking questions. Left with no choice, Ace could only tell them the truth to a certain extent without revealing his secrets.
"Don't worry, everything has already been planned out and prepared."
Soon after, they arrived at the foot of the mountain and to their surprise, a flight of stairs that curved to the summit of the mountain was built.
The Nascent mountain was barren of life ever since that day and even though some trees grew quickly under the existence of spirit energy, the trees were still far from being tall enough to block off sunlight.
"Sect master, how did you prepare all this while undergoing seclusion the whole time to cultivate?" It wasn't just Clarissa who was shocked and with this question, but everyone present including Charlotte who had been with Ace the entire time.
This guy, how dare he keep secrets from me. Charlotte thought to herself in anger and turned away from him.
"That's a secret." Ace brushed their question off and before they could ask any further questions, he quickly ascended the stairs and led them towards the Martial tower.
"Clarissa, Arith, do the two of you cultivate martial skills of the fire element or other elements?"
"While I make use of my personal flame essence for forging, I cultivate martial skills of the metal element." Arith answered.
"Water." Clarissa on the other hand wasn't interested in elaborating.
"What's the current grade of the martial skills you guys cultivate?"
"You don't really have to ask, everyone in the Glutton city knows that the martial skills we cultivate are of the low Earth grade, it's already one of the strongest martial skills a city can hold."
Arith explained seeing that Clarissa was actually busy admiring the beauty of nature here.
Sect points: 0
Phew, it seems like all preparations are ready ahead of expected time.
"Then the two of you are in for a surprise. By the way, what weapon do the two of you use?" Ace asked as he surveyed the current Martial pavilion.
Apparently, the system had dropped a message before leaving behind 32 low Earth grade martial skills, 16 middle Earth grade martial skills and 8 high Earth grade martial skills.
As for the cultivation technique, all he had at the moment was the Nirvana Rebirth cultivation technique of the flame element, which at the moment best suited Clarissa and Arith.
It might only be comparable to the middle Earth grade cultivation techniques out there at the moment, but it had the potential to grow and that was more than enough to ensure that his sect wouldn't fall behind.
But this led to another problem, he needed to find another four cultivation techniques to at least ensure that all members under his sect of the five basic elements won't have their cultivation restricted.
As for rare elements such as ice, poison or even darkness and light, he would have to find another way to access those cultivation techniques and martial skills later on.
"And here we are."
Soon enough, they arrived at the Martial tower and the first thing Ace did, was allow each of them to get a copy of the Nirvana Rebirth cultivation technique and choose a martial skill suitable for them.
In the end, Arith took the middle earth grade martial skill, Earth Splitting Axe.
Clarissa on the other hand, took the high earth grade martial skill, Flowing Water Palm.
"Sect master, if I manage to fully master this technique, I should be able to contend against those who are at the peak of the Martial Master realm." Arith said excitedly as he left, walking back soon after.
"Sect master, where can I train?"
"Hahahaha!" Laughing, Ace brought them towards the dwellings after he showed them the main hall, the mission board and most importantly the cultivation room.
On the way, he also implemented a merit points system after some pondering.
In order to ensure that all disciples and elders in the future have the chance to develop, one would have to accumulate sect merit points in order to use the cultivation room or exchange for a martial skill.
Of course, in order to expand the Martial pavilion, he would allow disciples to gain merit points in exchange of their martial skills to be placed in the Martial pavilion.
In total, he realised that there are 21 layers at the very least and even though only 7 of the layers are opened for usage to him, it would suffice for now.
This would allow his disciples to develop while taking the elite path, only martial skills of the peak mortal grade and above can be exchanged for sect merit points.
"Sect master, isn't it too difficult to save up merit points? Let's take the alchemist mission for example, ten spirit explosion pills made is only worth 1 sect merit point, while just a low earth grade martial skill alone requires about 200 sect merit points to exchange."
Clarissa wrinkled her brow and explained, Arith and Alexander remained silent but were thinking of the same thing.
"It's different for you and Arith, for every thousand spirit stones our branches of the Nirvana pavilion earns, it's one sect merit point for the two of you."
"Sect master, you serious?" Clarissa asked again, surprised by what Ace had suggested as a viable way. Especially when they have already built up their reputation in the Glutton city
"Have I ever lied to you? Remember this one rule, never doubt my words."
When Ace said this, no one thought he was joking around with them. It was obvious from the aura that he was eluding, he was dead serious with them about this.
"Yes sect master!" The three replied in unison before returning to their dwellings to cultivate, only to be surprised that their cultivation speed was actually 20% faster than before.
"Charlotte, it's about time I rope in more potential talents don't you think?"
Ace asked Charlotte as he held her hand, the two of them sitting on the mountain summit to enjoy the serene moment.
"Mhm, do you have any plans?" Charlotte asked in concern as she closed her eyes and leaned against Ace's body.
She was tired, even though she undergoes rigorous cultivation sessions everyday, none of them had ever been close to the intensity of cultivation when with Ace.
"You can rest on my shoulder."
"Mhm."
By the time night came, Ace called for a meeting in the main hall after carrying Charlotte over to rest on her new bed.
"Sect master, why did you suddenly call for us?" The one who asked was Clarissa who had been busy refining elixirs and making plans for the new branches of the Nirvana pavilion name.
"Do the two of you know of any youths below the age of sixteen that have good moral character?"
Ace's question was targeted at Clarissa and Arith. As for Alexander, Ace has his own reasons for calling for his presence as well.
"Sect master, I do know of a youth who you might be interested to rope in. But, he's already fifteen years old and still stuck in the Body Tempering realm."
"Oh? Elaborate more on him." Ace requested, interested in knowing more about the youth Arith just mentioned.
If that was true, doesn't that mean the foundation the youth has already built up would be more than enough to make him invincible in the future.
"The thing is that, it's been well known that his body is weak and that he can't even defeat an adult who's an mortal despite being in the Body Tempering realm for three years."
"Where is he?"
"I'm afraid that the plan to recruit him will have to wait for now, he's in the sunset city that's at least four days of travelling time due north from here."
Nodding his head, Ace dismissed Clarissa and Arith after briefly explaining to them about the presence of the spirit root.
"Alexander, do you know why I got you to stay?" Ace asked as he remained seated on his chair.
"It has to do with the army I suppose?"
Knowing that Alexander was on the same track as him, Ace understood that it was time for him to take the next step.
After all, his sect right now was just buildings built on a mountain with a few dwellings for accomodation, in strict terms, it was just a barren cultivation ground.
"The orphanage. That's a place where you can recruit your manpower. From there, you might be able to scout potential talents out there."
"Sect master, are you saying that I should leave the sect right when it's in the development period."
"No, the existence of your army will affect my future plans to an extreme extent. When you return, I need you to be strong enough. In just one year, I plan on making the Nirvana sect the strongest sect in this area."
"Yes sect master!"
Alexander accepted his final order before leaving the sect in the middle of the night, in which Ace permitted since it was his wish.
Alexander, I'm counting on you...