Recruitment

"Guild leader Arith. Guild leader Clarissa. I know what the two of you are thinking, I'll pay a visit later so please return to the Nirvana pavilion to help out for now." Ace brushed them off easily without affecting their cooperation in the slightest.

"Little brother, don't forget what you just promised." Clarissa teased before turning around to leave while Arith was more direct.

"As a man, don't go back on your words."

"Ace, how are you related to them?" Seeing that they had left, Charlotte immediately asked as she tugged on Ace's hand.

"Let me say this first, promise me you won't tell this to anyone." Ace said solemnly.

"What about master?"

"He already knows."

"So he's more important to you than me?"

*Cough*

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but can you guys be this intimate privately instead of doing so out in the open?" Alexander broke the silence and saved Ace upon seeing that he was at a loss for words.

As a fellow man, he was sure that Ace was desperately trying to find a way to get out safely without offending Charlotte.

"Is it fine for her to stay here?" Alexander looked towards Ace before turning towards Charlotte who was actually staring at him with her innocent watery eyes.

Realising the awkward situation, Ace only could shake his head and allow Charlotte to stay here.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Being the one who was being asked for help, Ace understood that Alexander probably wanted his help to grow stronger so that he could protect himself.

The struggle for power in the royal family meant that only one of the king's sons could inherit his position and for those that fail to become the crown prince, only death awaits them.

"I...It's just that…" Alexander wanted to explain, but he ended up stuttering, confused about where to start the conversation from.

"If it's your true identity, I know about it. Also, I had the intention to recruit you in after our first meeting."

Hearing Ace's words, Alexander knew that the cat had been let out of the bag somehow as he immediately pulled some distance away from Ace.

"Your cultivation speed is too slow, you're already seventeen and yet you're only at the Martial Master realm."

Alexander felt angered by what Ace had mentioned, his slow cultivation speed wasn't due to the lack of talent, but because he had to hide it. If he requested for cultivation resources from the family, then his six older brothers might start seeing him as a potential threat.

*Clench*

"If you know nothing, then shut the hell up!"

With quick momentum, Alexander threw a punch towards Ace who merely stood there without making a move.

"One year."

What? Alexander stopped, his fist only one inch away from Ace's face.

"What exactly do you want?" Alexander's face darkened as he pulled his fist back, Charlotte who was beside Ace ready to pick a fight if needed.

"Charlotte, step back." Ace cautioned when he realised that Charlotte was holding her glacier sword in hand and was already ready to make a move towards Alexander.

"What if he suddenly attacks you again like just now?" Charlotte asked in worry, but she still lowered her sword obediently.

"Don't worry, he's a man with ambitions just like me." Ace serious words however, were way too profound for Charlotte to understand even though she sheathed her sword and retreated backwards.

Looking at Alexander, Ace wasn't in a hurry to answer his question. Instead, Ace stared into Alexander's eyes who was challenging him as well.

"As expected, you aren't someone to back down either. Give me one year. I'll make sure you step into the realm beyond the Martial Master realm."

"Ba-Thump! Ba-Thump!"

Alexander could hear his heart beating rapidly, was he hearing things or did Ace just promise him something impossible?

"Even if you put it this way, I need you to prove yourself worthy of fulfilling your promise, especially since you know my identity."

"As expected of someone from the royal lineage. There's nothing much I can promise you right now, but I believe that you would be interested to know that I possess the means to fully awaken your potential one day."

Just how much does he know about me?

"What are you talking about? Everyone of the royal lineage including me has our cultivation talent determined from birth and without a doubt, I'm merely a low grade talent. Those brothers of mine are already miles ahead of me, what can you do to help me?"

"Listen, there's a reason why the Inferno Scriptures chose you and don't underestimate it, the part which you've cultivated thus far is only the tip of the iceberg that it holds."

Alexander swallowed a deep gulp of saliva, fear was arising from the deepest parts of his heart, just how much does this person know about him?

Knowing that he had achieved success in the first step of his recruitment plan, Ace proceeded to make his second move.

"Don't worry, there are three reasons why I'm telling you all this."

"What are they?" Almost instinctively, Alexander replied without any hesitation. He was allowing the true him to return. He was tired of living paranoidly and having to behave as someone he wasn't. It was time to change.

"Firstly, I have the intention to build up a sect. That's my ambition."

"Secondly, you were chosen by the Inferno Scriptures which like I've said, holds much more profoundness to it than you think. The low heaven grade is only the first part of the Inferno Scriptures."

"Thirdly, your potential has caught my eye. I don't need strength in numbers, the strength of my sect will originate from elites among elites, demons among demons. You're one of them, a carp soon to leap past the dragon gate and become a true dragon that soars the nine skies. Tell me, what is it that you desire?"

*Shatter*

The metal coating which had sealed his ambitions trapped within his heart was breaking apart, strength was pulsating in his veins and he could feel his blood boiling.

"My dream? To step onto the battlefield as a general. Becoming a king to enjoy life and be above others is merely an ambition forced upon me."

Charlotte, who had remained silent by the side, couldn't understand what's going on. Why was someone who was about to kill Ace a moment ago suddenly having a change of heart just because of Ace words?

"I ensure you that your dreams will happen and for that, I hope that the army you create will be the personal army of my sect in the future. Still, do you have any means or methods to start gathering manpower for your own army?"

"I don't, which is why I've decided that I'll spend the remainder of my time cultivating in one of the training halls nearby. You may not know, but I'm someone who has picked up the heavy sword as my weapon." Alexander said confidently as he took out his own heavy sword.

It was simple, the colour of crimson with a heavy base. The tip wasn't sharp, but it was evident that if this sword makes an appearance on the battlefield manifested by spirit energy, the destruction power would be amplified.

"A peak common grade weapon? Follow me after this, your strength shouldn't be limited by your weapon."

"Yes sect master!"

"Hahahaha! That day has still yet to come."

Seeing Alexander's sudden change of attitude, Ace heaved a sigh of relief. Now, he just needed to rope Clarissa and Arith into joining his sect in the future as well.

*Sizzle*

Right when they were about to leave, flames suddenly cloaked around Alexander.

Raising both his hands up and sensing the intense heat his palms were radiating, amazement was in his eyes.

"I think...I've just awakened the inferno intent."

The next moment, Alexander struck his fist out and released a beam of flame which this time, shocked Ace and Charlotte who had never expected this.

Tugging on Ace's sleeve, Charlotte asked, "Hey hey, did he just release his intent externally just by himself."

This time, Ace was the one who was shocked as he replied, "I think it just happened."

"Alright Alexander, calm down, follow me to the blacksmith guild. Charlotte, you can come along as well."

"Mhm." Charlotte replied as she nodded her head with a smile on her face.

Just like this, the trio made their way towards the blacksmith guild,