"Alexander?" Alexander called out in surprise as the leading commander walked into the main hall and took off his helmet.
Without a doubt, the person was Alexander. In these two to three months, he had undergone a total change. Not only did his cultivation skyrocket to the early stage Great Martial Master, he only managed to awaken the third stage of his Inferno intent, an elemental intent that ranks above that of fire.
"Sect master, I've lived up to your expectations. Right now, I'm the commander of three hundred men." Alexander cupped his hands and returned the greeting respectfully.
"Commander? What're you doing by kneeling to such a young boy? Aren't we here to meet the sect master which you've always been praising and speaking of?" One of the middle aged looking soldiers stepped out, glancing towards Jay and Cidd whose cultivation base was much above him.
"The young boy standing before you right now is the sect master of this sect. I can let you know about one thing right now, if an enemy insults me on the battlefield, I can bear it. But if they ever hurl insults at my sect master, then it's a fight that they're looking for."
"Commander, are you sure about this decision of yours?" Another soldier of the middle stage Martial Master realm stepped out and asked respectfully, his eyes glancing towards Ace intrigued by his demeanor.
This man, how is he acting so calm without even a single change in his expression without showing any form of discomfort?
One has to know that everyone standing here were either reputable alchemists or blacksmiths; powerful cultivators and brave soldiers. The aura each of them eluded by themselves might even terrify some talented geniuses, yet this youth was treating it as air.
"Of course, why else will he be able to recruit so many experts into this sect? Especially that elder with a sword, I can't detect the slightest trace of cultivation from him."
What?
If Jay was really just a mortal, then the soldiers wouldn't have been this surprised. But their time spent living as both a cultivator and soldier told them that this person wasn't just a sword master, he was also a cultivator which stands above them. Above the clouds as they gaze up upon the cloudy sky.
"This here is elder Jay, I'm sure all of you here are curious about his cultivation, but there isn't a need for you guys to know." Ace stood out and introduced Jay while concealing the truth from everyone that wanted to know the answer.
Nodding his head, Alexander asked, "Sect master, is the sect heading towards the Valor Kingdom to participate in the defense?"
"Yes, we'll be leaving this afternoon. Are you heading towards the Valor kingdom for the defense mission as well?"
"I'll be making my way there right now. All mercenary groups which have yet to be recognised as an official army are required to be there by today evening." Alexander reported honestly before turning around, "All soldiers, prepare to leave!"
"Yes commander!"
"Sect master, I hope to see you there." Those were the last words Alexander told him before he and his army left the Nascent mountain and headed towards the Valor kingdom.
"Hahaha, to think that your disciple is already catching up to me." Cidd laughed as spirit energy from the surrounding actually surged into his body.
"Everyone move back! He's making a breakthrough to the late stage Great Martial Master realm right now!" Jay who knew what was going on quickly took out a few elixirs and crushed them into powder before scattering them.
"Elder Jay, did you just crush an Emperor elixir as though it was nothing?" Clarissa asked from behind, her face full of unbelief and surprise.
One has to know that as a 4th grade alchemist, even she's still far from capable of making elixirs used by those that are in the transcendent realm. As for the information she has now, it was what her grandfather had told her.
If there's a dull copper wave on the elixir, it's a Lord Elixir that's above the 5th grade alchemists, only 6th grade alchemists like him are able to make one with sufficient preparations.
Beyond that were the King Elixirs which can only be made by 7th grade alchemists, of course, alchemists of that grade were so rare that there are only four of them even on the seven continents. As for the method to identify a King Elixir, they would have a silver lining on the elixir.
Even further up were the Emperor Elixirs that can only be made by 8th grade alchemists that don't exist on the seven continents, 8th grade alchemists are existences that only exists at the central continent, also known as the Holy Land where the pinnacle experts of this world belong to.
On the Emperor Elixirs, there would be a golden wave on it which was the feature that caught Clarissa's eyes, astonishing her as she stood there rooted to the spot, admiring the beauty of the scattered particles that were being absorbed by Cidd.
"Elder Jay, are you someone from the Holy Land of cultivation?" Before Jay could even reply, Clarissa cut straight to the chase and asked the question, surprising everyone present besides Ace.
"That's right, I know what you're thinking, but there aren't any 9th grade alchemists in this cultivation world anymore. At least, not in this cultivation realm we live in because above us, there's the Divine realm in which experts beyond the Four Domains exist. But of course, that path has been sealed and maybe one day, someone would open up the grand path towards the Divine realm, allowing all experts stuck at the apex of the Four Domains to leave this cultivation realm."
When Jay spoke, his face was twitching in agony.
"Jay, do you know of the cultivation realms beyond the Four Domains?" Despite this, Ace had to know the answer, because this affected him, that woman he saw with the sword, was she someone from the Divine realm of cultivation?"
"There's only one cultivation realm up there, the Saint realm which is divided into three major realms and nine sub grades. The Saint realm, the Great Saint realm and the apex of the entire cultivation universe, the Mystic Sage realm which is a legend." Jay explained again, adding on after a long time, "I was banished from the Divine realm because I was too weak to exist there."
...silence…
To think that they were still struggling to fully understand the Four Domains and yet beyond that cultivation realm, was the Divine realm of cultivation in which Saints belong. Will that be the future that they'll be fighting for? A future full of uncertainty and perils?
"Jay, if there's nothing else, please get the disciples to gather here right now." Closing his eyes, Ace got Jay to settle this matter since everyone else was in a similar state to him.
They thought that they were progressing well and that it was only a matter of time before they got recognised to stand at the peak of the universe, yet they're nothing but a speck of dust even if they reign over the seven continents and Holy Land.
They had a greater wall to climb and vault over now, they had to conquer the Divine realm as well. Since that was the case, they had to dominate the seven continents as quickly as possible so that they can head towards the Holy Land of cultivation.
Moments later, Cidd regained his composure. "Sect master, about five years from now, the seven continents will host a tournament where all youths under the age of twenty five represent their respective continent in the battle."
Ace was slow to react for once, but still nodded his head after awhile, "I know that you're thinking of having me and Charlotte represent the sect, but what if the representatives are the disciples of my sect instead. I'll make sure that all disciples are at least in the Four Domains within three years with two years to progress to the second domain of the four."
If Jay was here, he would probably be vomiting blood right now? Even someone of his talent took two and a half years to step into the second domain, getting lucky to have his talent appreciated and receive countless cultivation treasures to step into the third domain in another two years, finally stepping into the fourth domain after five years with guidance from experts.
Yet, Ace was thinking of it so easily.
It seems that I might have to change my plans a little…
Back in the Valor kingdom, in the castle, the king was currently holding a meeting with his subjects and most importantly, the defending general of the kingdom. Lucias the Holy Knight who had once slayed a demon beast in the first domain of the four when still in the Transcendent realm ten years ago.
In these ten years, people have gradually forgotten about him, not because he decided that he wanted to rest, but because he left the kingdom in order to cultivate, successfully progressing into the first domain through his years of effort.
"Lucias, I'll be leaving you in charge of the thirty thousand royal cavalry that are at least of the peak Martial Master realm, do not let me down."
"You can trust me your majesty." Lucias half knelt and replied politely, the sharp glint of hatred that flashed in his unnoticed to all the subjects present.