"Ruby, have you forgotten what I just told you about?" Max questioned as he stepped back from Ruby, his eyes staring at Ace with hatred.
Ruby however wasn't going to back down this time, if this man standing before her truly cared for her, he would listen to her reasons first.
"Max, you might have your own ambitions, but there's a limit to how far you can go alone. Trust me, staying here would be the best choice you can make." Ruby persuaded, her body stepping back, towards the direction of the sect.
Max sighed, his eyes meeting those serene eyes of Ace. "Tell me, just what is it that caused this change to Ruby?" His fists were clenched, his breathing was heavy, but he still kept calm and went straight to the point.
"Tell me, considering that you've been separated for almost a year now, what do you think Ruby's cultivation base would be at considering her cultivation talent?" Ace questioned, demanding an answer as he glanced towards Ruby who was trying not to break down.
"When I left, Ruby was at the early stage of the Martial Apprentice realm, if everything goes as it should, she'll still be at the early stage Martial Apprentice realm." Max squeezed the words through his mouth as he took out a talisman.
"I know that all of you are curious about my true identity. Sorry Ruby, but it seems that someone else besides you will have to know my deepest secret." Max addressed while stepping away from everyone, retreating in the direction opposite of the woman he loved.
"I am the chosen inheritor of the White Tiger and that birthmark was a seal it gave me in order to keep Ruby alive. In the one year I was away, I was finding a way to remove that birthmark so that the spirit energy Ruby has cultivated till now, will be returned to her ten times the previous amount in exchange for twenty years of my lifespan.
A disturbing silence filled the air as Cidd who noticed the bizarre fluctuation of spirit energy in the air rushed towards here, the other disciples finding their way here upon realising the sudden crowd and stranger. Jay on the other hand remained in his room mentoring his true disciples, making use of his third eye to witness the situation outside."
Has the White Tiger fallen as well? But how could that happen, even when my father was at his peak, the few White Tigers that were capable of leaving behind an inheritance were only one thin line weaker than him.
The four divine beasts were celestial beings that protected the universe from all four directions, their strength and might were comparable to divine beasts such as him who's a Zephyr that has yet to awaken his bloodline. Yet, how could one the few divine guardians fall when there was no recent news of sudden attacks?
"Max, are you sure about your decision right now?" Ace confirmed for the final time as he stepped back.
"Ruby, I trust you and in return, I want you to accept this gift from me. The increase in cultivation and most importantly, awakening a trace of the White Tiger bloodline which should benefit you in the future."
"Max no!"
Ignoring Ruby's request, Max crushed the talisman in his hand as a drop of essence blood escaped through his forehead, absorbed by the talisman as a surge of spirit energy spiralled into Ruby.
Middle stage Martial Apprentice. Late stage Martial Apprentice. Peak stage Martial Apprentice.
*Swoosh*
Her wavy hair turned golden as they swayed along with the sudden gust of wind, her pupils were a beautiful golden shade, the clothing around her body vanishing from the intense burst of energy as Ace hurriedly tossed out his robe to cover her body.
It was only a few minutes, yet it felt like an eternity to Max and a few years to the rest present. The girl who they didn't even know existed in the sect had just leaped straight to the peak stage Martial Master realm before their eyes.
"I'm glad…" Max mumbled as his body fell forward, his face was pale and his body was extremely weak right now. If Ace hadn't caught him before he made contact with the ground, it wouldn't be as simple as getting a scratch considering how frail his body was right now.
"Clarissa, do you think that you can concoct an elixir that helps to replenish his blood, supplement his physical body and at the same time help him replenish his lost spirit energy?"
Clarissa pondered for a moment before nodding her head solemnly, her uncertain voice worrying Ruby, "I can try my best, but even if he manages to regain consciousness, his cultivation talent would be greatly impacted unless he manages to regain the drop of essence blood lost, but considering that he's the inheritor of the White Tiger…"
"Ding! Due to special circumstances, the host will be able to purchase a drop of the White Tiger essence blood for just 300 system points. In exchange, the host must agree to a condition that this system will request."
"Offer will only last for five seconds."
"Four seconds."
"Wait! At least give me some time to think about it."
"Three seconds."
"What's the condition?"
"Two seconds."
"At least tell me the condition first!"
"One second."
"Time…"
"I accept!" Without any hesitation, Ace hurriedly spent the remainder of his system points as a drop of White Tiger essence blood flew out from his index finger and entered Max's body.
"Ruby, don't worry, he'll only return stronger than before. Clarissa, you can forget about what I just told you to do. Just give him some time to rest and when he regains consciousness, he should be in the Great Martial Master realm. The future of my sect will be up to you two young fellas now." Ace left after the drop of essence blood entered Max's body.
Ace's face was pale, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead when he looked at the condition that the system had brought up.
Condition: Gather upgrade materials
Time limit: 10 years
Basic requirement: Host must be in the Four Domains by then. Each domain represents an even higher tier of reward.
Materials: Divine sun stone (0/1), Iridescent hepta lotus (0/1), Banished soul (0/10000), Nascent Orb (0/10), Tribulation trident (0/1)
Bonus material: Unknown
Penalty: System will leave the host permanently, cultivation base will be lost.
Damn it! Ace punched the tree in anger when he saw the criteria, he didn't even know what the four domains were and even worse, he didn't recognise a single material he required by the system.
As for the banished souls, it was a harsh requirement despite being the easiest among them. He had to kill ten thousand people who have committed sinful crimes that deserve death, problem is, each of these are maniacs with insanely high combat strength and survival skills that can't be defined by their cultivation.
"Elder Clarissa, how can I ever repay the sect master? He may not have shown it, but him leaving suddenly definitely had to do with him saving Max." Ruby asked Clarissa worriedly as some of the disciples offered to let Max rest in their room.
"It's fine, if you guys are willing to help, can you bring Max to my dwelling?"
"I'll do it, Max once saved my life in the past." One of the youths with an innocent face offered to help as he walked over and hooked Max over his body.
Nodding her head, Ruby thanked the youth before turning her attention back to Clarissa.
The other disciples then scattered, without a doubt, Ruby was definitely the strongest member in the sect and considering her current charm, staying here might only make things awkward as time passes.
"The best you can do is to become a great alchemist and cultivator at the same time. Most importantly, that boyfriend of yours will have to stay here, our sect master paid a hefty price just to ensure that he isn't crippled after all."
Clarissa replied with her eyes glancing towards the direction Ace left towards, but there was one thing she didn't say, we owe him too much and yet we've done nothing for him until now.
Ace didn't have to explain, all the members of the sect understood that Ace wasn't having it easy for him. The top quality cultivation environment, the unique cultivation rooms, the neverending wave of sect missions, the irreplaceable dwellings, the large amount of cultivation assistance, the freedom to learn and do anything, the future monthly rewards.
Not only that, their sect master wasn't even of mature age in the cultivation world. In the cultivation world, only those who are fourteen can be said to have matured and have their own thinking, yet, their sect master was already way mature beyond that age.
"It seems like this sect master might be able to meet my criteria." The man playing a zither smiled to himself.
"It seems like this sect master is more than just a sword master and cultivator." The man training with his sword laughed.
The Nirvana sect was prepared to enter the cultivation world officially and in this one month, it would be the time they fully develop to the point where they're strong enough to be recognised.
"Due to loyalty of all disciples exceeding 80, lucky spin chance has been awarded."