The next morning, Sect Leader Kalm's courtyard had a tensed environment. Elder Ryan, Elder Stolz, and Sect Leader Kalm were looking at the big figures sitting in front of them with awkward expressions.
The sect leaders of the 4 strongest sects in the city, the most powerful and influential mages, the ones who control the destiny of the city were sitting on chairs looking at each other with awkward expressions.
Everyone had a similar line of thoughts.
If you can't get rid of the enemy, make them join you.
That was precisely why they were here, to poach Ace.
"Elder Ryan, go bring Elder Ace" Sect Leader Kalm ordered.
"At once, Sect Leader Kalm" Elder Ryan bowed and left.
Elder Ryan walked towards Ace's courtyard and knocked on the door lightly.
'I knew he was amazing but THIS good!? So young and yet so powerful, plus, he is blessed with otherworldly looks and a breathtakingly beautiful wife. Ahh!! Isn't the God too bias?' Elder Ryan complained.
'The Sect Leaders of the 4 strongest sects, who didn't even bother glancing at us are now sitting inside our sect without making any tantrums and are waiting for him patiently. Just how good is he!?'
'Plus, he also earned so much money!!! Ahh! That was my money! He tricked me!!'
'It is not fair! Not fair! No-' Elder Ryan's inner monologue was interrupted by Ace's call.
"Mr. Ryan? Is there something I can help you with?" Ace questioned politely.
"Oh! Elder Ace! Um… Sect Leader Kalm has requested your presence…" Elder Ryan informed.
"I have to go and take my class in 30 minutes, will it be over until then?" Ace questioned.
"Class? Oh, yeah, it doesn't matte- I mean, it should be over. Let's go" Elder Ryan replied.
'The sect leaders of the 4 strongest sects are here to meet him and he is thinking about his class!? Well, I think it is normal for a talent like him…'
"Alright… let's go" Ace answered with a somewhat dejected look.
"It's Elder Ace!"
"Elder Ace!?"
"Wow! He is so handsome! Just like rumors!!"
"Can I become his personnel disciple?"
"He clearly said that we aren't good enough to be his disciple"
"That's unfortunate… Can I become his concubine then?"
"Just say it directly that you want to warm his bed"
"Don't you? He is so dashing! I could die peacefully if I get a chance to spend a night with him!"
The disciples continued with their chat. At present, everyone inside the Sect knows about Elder Ace even if they don't know about Sect Master Kalm. Many wished to become Ace's personnel disciples but their requests weren't heard as Ace directly rejected them.
No way will he waste his precious time he could use to play with his nightingale in teaching some smelly brat. It was already a miracle that he was willing to take a 4-hour long class.
As the disciples chatted, the 2 elders entered Sect Leader Kalm's courtyard.
"Mr. Kalm, is there something I can help with?" Ace questioned politely, even though he was flaming inwardly. Of course, he will be angry, he was spending time with Maeve and that geezer interrupted him.
"Oh, Elder Ace, you are here. These are the people who want to talk to you personally" Sect Leader Kalm replied as he pointed towards Sect Leader Fianna and the others.
"Uhh… who are they?" Ace questioned after nodding to Sect Leader Fianna.
"uhh… as you know, this is Sect Leader Fianna, the sect leader of Gracious Flower Sect.
This is Sect Leader Haste, Sect Leader Denim, and Sect Leader Maxen. The Sect Masters of Holy Dragon Sect, Vicious Snake Sect, and Heavenly Phoenix Sect, respectively" Sect Leader Kalm introduced.
"Okay… so what do you all want from me?" Ace questioned, directly coming to the main topic.
'Just like I thought, he is completely unfazed by our Auras' Sect Leader Fianna analyzed as she noticed Ace's carefree and somehow annoyed look.
"Well, Elder Ace, I would like you to join our Sect as an Elder" Sect Leader Haste was the first one to speak.
"Why would I do that?" Ace questioned, his annoyed mood taking the best of him.
"Umm… because my Sect is one of the 4 strongest Sects?" Sect Leader Haste replied with an uncertain tone. It was his first time someone asked him a question like this.
Usually, if he invites someone to join his Sect, they would be delighted and won't even think twice before accepting but Ace was the first person who wasn't only not excited, he looked somewhat annoyed by the invitation.
"Well, congratulations about being one of the 4 strongest Sects, but I still don't get why should I join you?" Ace responded.
"Well, we can provide you more resources than this Sect, this way you can get even stronger than you are now" Sect Leader Haste explained.
"Is that it? I reject. Can I go now?" Ace rejected before turning towards Sect Leader Kalm and questioning but even though he asked, he already turned around, ready to leave.
"Wait! Leave him! Join my Sect. I will make you one of the Esteemed elders, allowing you more resources than a normal elder" Sect Leader Maxen offered quickly.
"Screw that! I will you a Great Elder of the Sect, giving you utmost respect, Status, power, and resources" Sect Leader Denim offered.
"I also change my offer, I will give you the title of Great Elder, making you as respectful as The Sect Leader" Sect Leader Haste offered.
"Me too" Realizing that his offer didn't have much appeal, Sect Leader Maxen offered.
Ace's movement stopped and he turned towards Sect Leader Kalm as if asking that if he had any better offers to make him stay here.
When the Sect Leaders saw that, they smirked. How could mere Inferno Sword Sect compete with their Sects?
"Well, I can't give you more resources, status, power than them, but I can give you a position of Great Elder of the Sect" Sect Leader Kalm offered and others smirked in disdain, what is the position of a mere great elder in Inferno Sword Sect meant in front of an elder of there Sect?
"Through this position, you will have the same status as me in the Sect, and the resources you receive will be doubled. I will also add one more condition that you won't have to teach any disciples, giving you more time to spend as you see fit" Sect Leader Kalm offered and contrary to everyone's expectations, Ace's eyes brightened in joy.
"You mean I won't have to work?"
"If that is what you like. You will only have to attend very important meetings that only happen when the Sect is in danger" Sect Leader Kalm nodded.
"Alright! I am staying here!" Ace declared with joy while other leaders had shocked expressions on their faces.
How could Ace turn down the offer they presented? Wasn't becoming a Great Elder in one of the 4 strongest Sect is better than become a Great Elder in a normal Sect? How come Sect Leader Kalm's offer was better than theirs?
But what they didn't know was that their sect or any other sect in this world doesn't matter to Ace. He was an emperor, after all. What attracted him the most was the not needing to teach anymore.
This means he can spend even more time with his Maeve and his Nightingale. Suddenly, his annoyed mood brightened.
"So, Mr. Kalm, I don't have to teach from today right?" Ace questioned and Sect Leader Kalm nodded.
"Aright! If there is nothing else, I am off!" Ace declared and turned around. Everyone was too shocked to stop him so he quickly left the courtyard and walked towards his courtyard while humming a joyful tone.
While other Sect Leaders were shocked, Sect Leader Fianna had a smile on her face.
Ace reacted exactly how she thought he would.
More than happy, she was relieved. If Ace had accepted the offer, it would have meant that he was a power-hungry person and that would mean that he will try and take over the whole city in the future, becoming a threat for them.
But now, it was clear that he has nothing to do with power and influence, he just wants to live his life with his rules and spend more time with his family.
"Thank you for having us, Sect Master Kalm" She stood up and spoke politely before leaving.
Seeing her leaving, the rest of the leaders also left, but they were still shocked that they were rejected. Sect Leader Kalm sighed in relief while Elder Ryan and Elder Stolz had dumbfounded looks.
The elder who joined recently was now promoted to a Great Elder and that was the worst choice available for him. Even though they roughly guessed why the other sect leaders were here, it was still shocking to know that they came here by themselves to poach Ace and were rejected without mercy.
"Elder Stolz, announce Elder Ace's new position in the Sect to other Sect members and Elder Ryan, you deal with the class Elder Ace had to take before" Sect Leader Kalm ordered and the elders nodded, still too shocked to say anything.
Meanwhile, Ace happily returned to his courtyard, and just as he was about to announce the good news, he sensed someone entering his courtyard.
"Ugg! Why are these busybodies here…" Ace grunted in displeasure and before the knock could be heard, he opened the door.