One month

*Creak*

Opening the door, Ace stepped into the room alone.

As for Charlotte and Alexander, they were wandering around by themselves in the alchemist guild.

"Clarissa, I know what you want to ask of me, but I have another offer for you." Cutting straight to the chase, Ace gave Clarissa the elixir formula that she intended to trade for."

"What is it?" Clarissa, being someone who was capable of holding her position as guild leader of the alchemist as a woman, understood that Ace had his own reasons for throwing out such an offer suddenly.

"I have the intention to create a sect and when the time comes, I hope that you would be able to join me." Ace explained as he took out what seems like ten elixir formulas.

"I know this is sudden, but I have the intentions to groom you to become an alchemist that far exceeds your current standard."

Just what does Ace want from me?

"If it's someone with potential you want, there are many young alchemists I can refer you to." Clarissa rejected the offer politely as she brought the cup of tea to her seducing lips.

"I don't trust them, especially when you're the one who has gotten into a business with the Nirvana pavilion. To be honest with you, the Nirvana pavilion in the Glutton city is only the first branch I'm opening up with many more to open up in the future."

"Oh? Are you expecting me to help you manage all the elixir related businesses in the future?" Clarissa asked, half surprised, half cautious.

"You're someone I can trust or you could have just swallowed up the first elixir formula I trusted you with for your own selfish benefits." Ace explained as he stood up and left.

"I need you to leave the alchemist guild after a month regardless of the situation. If possible, I need 60 Eternal Foundation pills in three days time. You can deliver them to Alexander, he'll pass them to me from there."

"Don't disappoint me please."

Clarissa remained seated on her chair. Her eyes closed as she leaned back thinking about her next course of action. The decision she makes will affect not only the present, but her future as well.

Returning to the Nirvana pavilion with Charlotte and Alexander, Ace realised that it's about time for him to focus on cultivation.

"Alexander, you can rest in one of the private rooms in the Nirvana pavilion, just make sure to check in with Boss Lou. Also, if Clarissa does drop by three days later, help me to deliver the elixirs to the third floor, you'll see the stairs that day."

"Yes, sect master." Alexander accepted the order without any hesitation, after all, this youth had already gained his recognition and such a simple task wouldn't take much effort anyways.

Returning to the third floor with Charlotte, Ace realised that their master wasn't around. On the circular table made of elegant ice, was a letter.

Opening it up, Ace and Charlotte realised that it was a letter written by their master to them.

[Ace and Charlotte, by the time you guys read this letter, I would have left to settle some matters. When the time comes, we'll meet again]

"Senior, has our master left us?"

Hearing the dejection in Charlotte's voice, Ace could only pat her on the head and assure softly, "Of course not, our master just left to settle some matters."

"Really?"

"Yep."

Lying to Charlotte was painful to Ace for some reason, but he would rather be the one hurting. If Ace wasn't wrong, their master probably only stopped by due to some reasons and every time he saw their master drinking, sorrowness always enveloped the area.

*Clench*

Master, one day, I'll find you and help settle your problems. Just, please give me the time to develop. Ace made the determination his heart, but will time wait for him?

"Charlotte, we need to grow stronger."

Ace said as he gripped Charlotte's hand tightly. Right now, Charlotte was all he had left.

"Mhm…"

Just like this, the two of them spent sixteen hours cultivating a day and three days later, Clarissa didn't disappoint Ace as she delivered exactly 60 Eternal Foundation elixirs.

If Clarissa had delivered less than the specified amount, it could only mean that she was one to take shortcuts and do anything that benefits her.

If Clarissa had delivered more than the specified amount, it could only mean that she was one who would go against orders hoping for more rewards.

It was a simple test as well and Clarissa had met his expectations.

Just like this, their cultivation speed skyrocketed and in the last three days, Ace made use of the Enhancement Foundation pill from the system shop after spending 480 system points so that Charlotte can use them freely as well.

In just 26 days, he gained 15360 cultivation points and managed to awaken up to the 89th high grade acupoint.

*Whoosh*

One month passed by in the blink of an eye. It was the second month of spring and at this point of time, Ace and Charlotte were already building their foundation towers.

With the help of the Enhancement Foundation pills and determination Charlotte put into cultivation after their master left, the two of them fully awakened all 361 acupoints.

Now, it was the nine layers of Foundation tower which they had to worry about. Ace was confident in completing all nine layers of the Foundation tower, it was Charlotte that he was worried about. He just wanted to ensure that she could stand at the peak with him one day.

"Due to the host managing to complete the awakening of all 361 acupoints, a total of 1062 system points has been awarded after deductions made on purchases!"

"Charlotte, will you follow me in creating the sect together?"

Ace asked Charlotte as they ended their cultivation session of one entire month.

"Mhm…" Charlotte replied softly as she lowered her head, her cheeks blushing from sensing the warmth from Ace's hand gripping onto hers.

At this point of time, Ace understood that he wanted to protect Charlotte.

Holding Charlotte's hand as they stepped out of the third floor which vanished physically, it was fine to them since it has already created precious memories for the two of them.

"Boss Lou, how much did I earn in this one month?"

Ace had to settle this fast, because he had a feeling that after this, the system would enable him to start the creation of the sect even though the official grading would have to wait until eleven months later when he steps into the Martial Master realm.

"How much do you think you earned?"

Boss Lou asked as he threw over the bag of spirit stones contained into a spatial bag, a simpler version of the spatial ring used to contain only spirit stones.

"Congratulations to the host for earning thirty thousand spirit stones in just one month!"

"Due to a completion rate over 100%, 500 system coins have been awarded!"

"Sect system booted up!"

Sect system: Level 1 (0/1000) EXP

Members: (3/100)

Location: Nascent mountain (low spirit grade)

In this world, sects usually build themselves above places with a concentrated amount of spirit energy. The reason for the thick amount of spirit energy is due to the sect being created above a spirit root.

Spirit roots are divided into a few grades. The Spirit grade, the Phantom grade, the Transcendent grade and beyond that would be the legendary, Celestial grade. The spirit roots are then further divided into the low, middle, high and peak quality.

Of course, even phantom grade spirit roots are rare and besides the strongest sects on the seven continents that possess them, only a few hidden forces, families or kingdoms were qualified to possess them. As for the transcendent grade, it has never once appeared on the seven continents.

From there, Ace went on to further understand how the system works.

In order to earn sect points, members of the sect would have to complete missions which would in turn provide experience for the sect. Due to the sect being only at the lowest level at the moment, there were only grade E missions.

Mission: Clear the bandits harassing a nearby village (E)

Reward: 10 system points, 1 EXP

"System, shouldn't there be a starting amount of sect points to start off the sect's initial development?"

"Ding! 500 sect points have been deposited into the sect system!"

"Ding! Sect shop has been opened!"

100 low quality dwellings: 100 sect points

1 cultivation room, provies 2X cultivation speed: 100 sect points

Martial pavilion, to hold all cultivation techniques and martial skills: 100 sect points

Without a doubt, he was going to spend 300 sect points right off the bat, as for the remaining 200 sect points, it was to build the main hall and his own apartment.

"Boss Lou, I'll be back in the future so don't forget to send me monthly spirit stones."

"Hahahaha! Of course!"

Getting Alexander, Arith and Clarissa to leave with him, the group of five made their way towards the Nascent mountain. A place of memories that has been shattered for Ace.