"Are all cultivators going to judge people just based on their age? Or is the cultivation world incapable of coming up with a talent ranking guide to determine the potential of each youth since young?"
Ace hinted without taking the words of the masked announcer too seriously. Withdrawing his sword, he unsheathed it and allowed the Phoenix sword to descend upon this mundane world in comparison to its origin.
The Phoenix sword might not have changed since the first time Ace obtained it mysteriously, but ever since he awakened the first effect of the phoenix set, his strength has increased exponentially while bringing about a crimson shine to this sword.
The sword was lethal to the eyes of many, its unconcealed aura coerced everyone which created distance between themselves and the platform.
Without a doubt, this young boy who wasn't even an adult in their eyes has already veloped to a point of maturity that exceeds them.
"Relentless Ignition!"
Gathering his Nirvana law and Scarlet law into his sword at the same time, he found the perfect balance and harmony. The energies remained in the sword, merging into each other as Ace unsheathed his sword, pointing its tip towards the masked announcer.
"Hey, do you know what I fear the most in this world?"
"What is it?"
"An enemy that returns stronger!" Ace yelled as he slashed towards the masked announcer, releasing the stored energy within his sword which threatened to rip apart the air, the crowd going silent as they stared at awe.
This attack wasn't just threatening anymore, the deafening silence created a tense atmosphere in the air. The cultivation forces and sects beneath the platform were left in awe when they saw the youth determined to prove his worth.
The scarlet slash of passion struck the barrier the masked man had placed up, tearing through it without facing any resistance.
"Interesting, your strength is already comparable to that of a second realm Martial Lord, but are you going to contend against the strongest in this cultivation forces tournament with just this pathetic amount of strength?"
The masked announcer sneered without an ounce of care for Ace's pride, but beneath the mask, his face was solemn.
"Rebirth."
That was the only answer Ace gave as the same attack manifested itself, returning to life once again with the life essence provided by the Nirvana flames.
"How is this possible?"
The masked announcer blurted out in surprise as he put up another barrier right before his body, adding on, "Not bad, this attack is already comparable to that of the average Martial Lord third realm."
"What just happened? Wasn't his attack already destroyed?"
"No way, did he just manifest the same attack without causing a single commotion or disturbance to the nearby air with the attack coming back even stronger?"
"Is such a thing even possible for a Martial Spirit? Even a Martial Lord might not be able to accomplish the manifestation of another attack of similar strength from such a distance, not to mention with the attack returning even stronger."
The sect masters were sent into an uproar, shocked by a sight which should have never been possible to be accomplished by such a young boy.
"Interesting, young boy, you may retreat from the platform now, I'll recognise your strength for now at the very least."
"Ignite once again." Ace murmured in a low breath only the masked announcer could hear, his face determined to win as the same attack once again manifested itself, but instead of forming from the same position this time, the attack was manifested from behind the masked announcer while Ace pierced towards the masked announcer from the front.
"You think you can take me down with just a flank from two different directions at the same time? You've underestimated me young boy." The masked announcer said calmly as he reacted to the sudden chain of attacks with two barriers, each strong enough to sustain attacks from a Martial Lord fifth realm.
Even though Ace was unable to breakthrough these barriers in the end, he had already proved his worth by leaving behind a deep line of crack on them, not any that, it had only been a matter of days since he stepped into the Martial Spirit realm and for his age, this was a historical feat which would never be broken.
From today onwards, The Nirvana Sect already has the strength to declare to the cultivation world, "The Nirvana Sect is bound to rise from the ashes, those who spurn us will regret their decision one day."
Those were the words that Ace left behind before stepping off from the platform, leaving the crowd to wonder about his true strength and where his limits laid.
"Sect master, have you already walked that ahead of us?" Lancelot asked in jealousy, but deep down, he was still content that this was the sect master he had chosen to follow.
A sect master who cares for his disciples and despite this, he was also a sect master who would seek any chance to improve himself and even go through great sacrifices just to help them.
Just like how he paid an unknown hefty price in order to save Max the first time just because he couldn't bear to see his cherished disciple Ruby crying.
There was also that incident where he disappeared for a period of time, only to return and help Arith regain consciousness, but throughout the entire time, there had never been once Ace had shared his woes with them.
"Don't worry, I created the sect and I'll be sure to walk down this path with all of you and unless they step over my dead body, don't worry about coming to any harm when you have me around."
"Thank you sect master, but if that day were to come, it seems that we would have to compete against each other." Garen joked around, his blonde hair settling down on his shoulders.
"Take back your words."
"What?"
Garen asked in response which resulted in Ace staring at him intensely before sighing, "I don't want any of you to come to any harm, that's my job as your sect master after all."
"Sect master Ace, I'm the Legacy Paladin, please meet me at the room of your courtyard, I'll be waiting for you there."
Despite receiving the message, Ace acted as though nothing happened knowing that the Legacy Paladin would have the patience to wait for him.
As for the reason, it was the crowd of sect masters and cultivation leaders that had stayed neutral just now wanting to form an alliance with his sect right now, but this only made Ace have a bolder decision.
"System, if I intend to take in subsidiary sects to further contribute to the development of the Nirvana Sect, would it be possible?"
"Yes, the number of subsidiary sects that the Nirvana Sect can absorb isn't limited, but if the day comes whereby any of the subsidiary sects betrayed the Nirvana Sect, all their contributions will be erased regardless of the reason."
"I understand."
"Sect master Ace, what a spectacular performance you have put up there, I'm the Tribe leader of the Ravagers tribe."
"Sect master Ace, I'm the sect master of the psychic sect, I request nothing much but to form an alliance between our cultivation forces."
"Sect master Ace, I…"
"That's enough, I'll make it clear right now, the Nirvana Sect has no intentions to form an alliance. If any of you are still interested in a cooperation, do take note that I'll only be absorbing your cultivation forces as subsidiary sects, but those of you who turn me down right now, should be smart enough to not harp on a lost opportunity."
"This…"
In fact, they understood that Ace indeed had both the strength and potential to absorb their cultivation forces as subsidiary sects, but if they were to take him up on the offer, then they would lose out on their usual pride and confidence which might actually be detrimental to their cultivation.
Not only that, if they were to become a subsidiary sect of the Nirvana Sect, then they would have to send an annual worship fee to the Nirvana Sect.
"I know what all of you are thinking right now, but I'll only speak to those who have already made up their minds and are ready to become a subsidiary sect of the Nirvana Sect with immediate effect regardless of the terms and conditions that I would be raising,
"I'm sorry, sect master Ace, I'll take my leave first."
"I still have some matters at hand to deal with, I'll invite you for a tea session at another time."
"All of you, leave before I flare up." Ace demanded with his slaughter aura fully exuding from his body which coerced everyone to back away from him without being able to keep their pride.
But this wasn't an area of concern for Ace, they did ask for it after all.
In the end, all the cultivation forces and sects left as expected, leaving behind only Ace and his sect members while the crowd had already dispersed as the masked announcer revealed that the official round would only begin in one month's time,
This one month wasn't just preparation time for all the cultivation forces, but a time period in which those who got into the official cultivation forces competition might suffer in this one month due to the lack of strength to protect themselves.
"By the way, all cultivation forces and sects can be challenged once a day by any cultivation force in accordance to the rule stated in the tokens which should have been transferred to the respective power holders by now. Remember, those who have been eliminated can return while those who have made it through, might face elimination."
The masked announcer declared before vanishing, bringing along the platform with him as the ground returned to its original state, not a single trace of the platform's existence left behind that could be noticed.
"Sect master Ace, as the Hall Master of the Elusion Hall, I would like to take you up on your previous offer. As for my strength, what if I told you that I had been lurking around since the beginning and the only person around who noticed me is the Sword Ancestor near your side."