While Ace was on the way to meet the master of the Peacock Auction Hall who was currently unconscious, the other Wolf Tier forces who were confident in securing their position in the official round had gathered together for a discussion.
The only cultivation force that was excluded was the Paladin Haven who had already formed an alliance with the Nirvana Sect, not to mention that the Paladin Haven was one to reject such behaviour.
Dave, the Valley Master of the notorious Blossom Valley was the one who initiated this sudden meeting.
This meeting was a must for Dave who was the Valley Master of the Blossom Valley since the elder and disciple of his sect had already offended Ace.
Even though Ace might not hold a grudge towards someone as insignificant towards an elder and disciple of the Blossom Valley, the same might not go for his disciples and elders who were the ones picked on.
Javier, the sect master of the Crimson Sect was the first ally he invited after serious deliberation. Even though the Blossom Valley had a notorious reputation, there were still a few reliable alliance partners they had and the Crimson Sect was one of them.
The reason was because the Crimson Sect allowed disciples of its sect to cultivate with the Blossom Valley as well since both sides stood to gain, on the premise that members from both sides were doing it willingly.
As for the last alliance partner invited by Dave, he was the only Archmage of the Magic Tower, going by the name Majestine. He was also nicknamed Soulstealer by the cultivation world for his magical prowess.
In fact, Dave hesitated not only once or twice to invite this guy, but he just had to. Majestine was the only one who possessed the strength to suppress Ace right now, in the end, both him and Javier were already too weak compared to the rising star of the younger generation.
"Dave, since you have bothered to invite me, you should know what to expect from me." As Dave and Javier expected, Majestine was already requesting for his commission.
"Don't worry, as long as you manage to suppress that young brat, I won't forget about my end of the deal." Dave promised while cursing in his heart.
"Hahahaha, Majestine, you're still as direct as ever." Javier broke out in awkward laughter to ease the tense atmosphere.
The next moment however, a pressuring aura from Majestine made it difficult for both Javier and Dave to breathe.
On his face was absolute confidence as he commented, "The two of you have ceased to improve for years, it seems that this is still the case."
"Majestine, what are you trying to achieve right now?" Dave asked with his arms gripping tightly to the armrest on his leather chair.
"Majestine, if you have any requests, just cut straight to the chase right now instead of beating around the bush." Javier said calmly as Majestine lifted the intense pressure.
"Since I'm definitely able to suppress that young brat, shouldn't my commission be increased? By a large margin, perhaps."
Magistine was showing dominance right from the start and to make matters worse for Dave who was the one who invited him, it was too late for him to regret his decision, left without a choice, Dave could only comply with Majestine's wishes.
"Very well, I'll double the initial commission I promised you, but only after you take care of that young fella and allow the magic tower to prevent the advancement of his disciples."
"No worries about that, though my Magic Tower might still be a Wolf Tier cultivation force without the strength to contend against the Nirvana Sect, I can seek help from my brother."
"You have a brother?" Javier asked in surprise.
There were many rumors about Majestine and unproven facts about him, but if he had a brother who can make him confident enough to take on the Nirvana Sect, then his brother must definitely be from a Tiger Tier cultivation force.
"Yes, my brother is the Grand Archmage feared by all, the mage of destruction. Cole."
Cole was the creator of the Magic Castle which is one of the strongest Tiger Tier cultivation forces. In terms of just their average disciples alone, even the weakest of them was in the middle stage Great Martial Master realm.
Not to mention that they have a legendary figure among them, the disciple of the Grand Archmage Cole, Craze.
Few have seen Craze in actual combat, but the battle three months ago had made him famous when he defeated a demon beast which came from the oceans by himself. To be more exact, it was a demon lord he defeated in three moves on foreign terrain.
With a spell cast to slow the oceanic demon beast which resembled a shark, he then used another spell to amplify his own magic power before generating the thunder element to unleash a dazzling bolt of fury which paralysed and claimed the life of the invader.
Compared to him, Lancelot and the rest were still far from being his match.
With Cole guiding him personally for the remaining of this month after making a bountiful trip during an exploration last month, it wouldn't be a surprise for both the master and disciple to make tremendous improvement.
"Still, what makes you so sure that your brother will help us?" After thinking about this matter logically, Dave finally figured why the usually arrogant Majestine has never raised his brother's name in any conversation.
"Which is why I would require the harmony leaf which only grows every hundred years from the divine tree of the Blossom Valley and the Infernal heart fruit from the Infernal tree which only bears ten Infernal heart fruits every two hundred years."
"Majestine, don't you think that you're asking for too much? I'm sure you know better than the both of us that you're only requesting those two objects to gain cultivation advice from your brother to progress one step further while dealing with the Nirvana Sect at the same time."
Javier who had been tolerating Majestine the entire time couldn't take it anymore and flared up as he stood up abruptly from his chair.
"Haha, too much? Why don't you seek help from someone else then? But if you two were to request help from me again, don't expect the price to be any lower than now." Majestine broke out in laughter and stood up from his chair.
Turning towards the door, he walked towards it without any hesitation as his long robe was levitating right above the ground.
"Wait, I agree to your conditions." Dave called out right before Majestine left the room.
"Haha, it took you too long. I expect two harmony leaves and two Infernal heart fruits right now."
"Fine." Dave agreed despite the unwillingness in his heart.
"I hope that your brother succeeds or you'll definitely regret your actions today." Javier agreed hostilely after Dave promised him some benefits privately.
*Residence of the Peacock Auction Hall Master*
The residence was simple in design with a few guards here and there on patrol. Besides that, the residence was desolated and when walking by the courtyard, the only thing worth mentioning to Ace was the arrays set up in place.
"Rain, why is it so desolated here?" Ace couldn't help but ask as they made another turn to the right, only for Ace to take a step back from an impactful force that crashed into him.
"What in the world…"
"Jasmine, what are you doing here?" Before Rain could even berate the young girl and get a grasp of the current situation, he saw Rain bending down and patting a young girl on the head.
"Brother Rain, you promised that I'll get to meet my father last month as well, what exactly happened to my grandfather?" Jasmine asked in a mature voice which surprised Ace.
"Don't worry, I promise to let you meet your father today alright?" Rain comforted in a caring tone, but to Jasmine who has already grown tired of this, she shook her head unwilling to believe Rain.
"Jasmine is it?"
"Yes?" Jasmine looked up at Ace who had called out to her, her eyes opening wide and observing Ace who was a foreign face as though he was some rare specimen.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No, it's just that, I…" Before Jasmine could complete her sentence, cold sweat formed on her skin as Rain caught her right before she collapsed onto the ground.
"This phenomenon...could it be…" Ace wasn't sure about the doubt in his heart yet, but if his guess was right, then things have gotten complicated.
"Ace, do you probably know about my sister's condition. Ever since she was born, she would suddenly faint at unexpected intervals every week."
"Rain, if I'm not wrong, your sister most likely possesses the Taotie body constitution,:
"What's that?"
"I'll explain it later, for now, just help her settle down to rest while I diagnose your father's condition before explaining the situation."
"Very well, my father's room is around the corner over there, just make a right turn and enter the first door you see."
"Alright."
*Boom*