Another destined couple

"Oh, that's a surprise, come on in." Ace invited Cidd into his room and poured a cup of tea for him.

Glancing towards the cup of tea before withdrawing his gaze back, Cidd sat down on the round chair.

Adjusting his bearings, Cidd then took out what seemed like a piece of paper and placed it on the table.

"I've written down the details of the official round on this piece of paper briefly. Read through it and I'll clarify any doubts you have."

"Sure, give me a moment."

The official cultivation forces tournament will begin in a month's time, until then, all cultivation forces are to secure their placing without being defeated by any eliminated cultivation forces.

This was negligent to Ace as he skipped to the next piece of information.

The next rule states that all disciples will be transported into another dimension realm opened up by a Martial Saint who returned to the Fragmented Cultivation World to spend his last years from the Divine realm.

The disciples are required to stay in the separate dimension for three months and what they have to do in the separate dimension, is hunt demon beasts down and gain points according to the strength of the demon beast slain.

Not only that, it was part of the rules to rob other teams and one successful robbery must be done every seven days at the very least.

The teams who make it through the official round will then enter a round robin tournament, that's when the cultivation forces tournament truly begins and without a doubt, this is when the strong truly shows up.

Even the weakest cultivation force who makes it to the round robin tournament would definitely see a grand future ahead of them, provided that they survive the incoming ordeal that is.

"Cidd, do you know what geographical location everyone will be transferred to?"

"I don't. But I managed to figure out another component which might be graded in the cultivation forces tournament."

"What is it?"

"The improvement our disciples make in a month."

Ace smiled when he heard this. If there was one thing his disciples excelled in, it was their determination to grow stronger and without a doubt, they were going to push themselves once again.

Leaving his room, Ace first looked for Luke who had managed to blend in with the others, approaching him silently from behind.

Luke was currently alone in the courtyard, dancing around with his sword, his movements were slow on the surface, but that was because each of these swings were weighted.

If Luke were to do the same sword movements without the weights on his body, the sudden release of explosive strength would be more than enough to cause an explosion,

However, to Luke whose senses were on the sharp alert constantly as a habit, he noticed Ace who was sneaking up behind him and asked without stopping, "Sect master, what is the matter?"

"Luke, there is a one month break before the official round for the cultivation forces competition officially starts. In this period of time, it would be beneficial for you to roam around by yourself."

"Sect master, but I'm just someone who has yet to be alone by myself in the cultivation world, I'm afraid that I might cause the sect unintentional trouble."

Luke argued despite the excitement that flashed in his eyes.

"Don't worry, the sect would never abandon you regardless of the situation."

Luke hesitated for a moment. "I understand, sect master, please stay safe during this period I'm away."

Luke left without letting Ace see the final expression on his face, his teeth biting on his lip as he swore to himself, I must return stronger for both the sect and the sect master who gave me a new lease of life.

That fella... Ace chuckled as he leaned against a tree, gaining deeper comprehension on the path he must take as a sect master.

After all, a flower that blooms in a safe environment is bound to be destroyed by the relentless wind outdoors.

In order for his disciples to grow, Ace must allow for them to develop on their own, away from the shade he has provided for them.

Now then, Lancelot and Alexander would have most likely left with their own motives in mind.

Garen must be studying the operations of the Nebula Kingdom without neglecting his cultivation.

Max and Ruby were most likely with each other cultivating the white tiger bloodline, in simple terms, dual cultivation.

In the meantime, Cidd was the one who was totally occupied with both his cultivation and a woman who has been pestering him.

"Cidd, just how long are you going to reject me for? Initially you said that you would only be a burden to me, but now you're already a man I can rely on."

This woman was none other than Alice, the Legacy Paladin of the Paladin Haven.

Wearing a robe designed with white flowers and a blue tone to it, her beauty was amplified.

"Alice, I honestly have no intentions of getting into a relationship right now." Cidd brushed her off and stood up from his chair.

"It's fine, I'll wait." Alice stood up and replied determinedly, her voice unwavering which was what someone of her identity should possess.

But in her eyes, were sorrow and disappointment which she should spare no time for.

There were just too many duties she had to fulfill in life, but she also saw the need to pursue her own happiness.

"Alice, please, leave right now." Cidd hesitated, but still managed to control his emotions and invite her out of the room.

*Creak*

Ace pushed the room doors open. Awaiting him was an unexpected scene whereby the elder of his sect was at a standstill against the Legacy Paladin.

"Cidd, Alice. What is going on right now?"

Alice blushed and looked towards the ground in embarrassment while Cidd stuttered before explaining himself.

"I'm just discussing some matters with the Legacy Paladin."

Raising his brows with a cheeky smile, Ace ignored Cidd and proceeded to speak to Alice instead.

"Alice, what are you doing here?"

Hearing Ace's sudden question, Alice wasn't able to react in time as she answered honestly, "I came here to look for Cidd."

Covering her mouth upon realising that the slip of the tongue would get them into trouble, Alice stared at Ace at a loss for what to do now.

"Sect master, there's nothing going on between us." Cidd hurriedly explained, which only made the situation more confusing for Ace.

"Alice, is Cidd the reason why you took Garen as your disciple and tried to bring him together with Grace?"

Alice opened her mouth and gasped in shock, but after a brief moment, she calmed herself down and said in grievance.

"Yes, the reason why I got Malene to help Fawkes form an alliance with the Nirvana Sect was because of Cidd. But the reason I chose Garen as my inheritor has nothing to do with this."

"I see, if that's the case, what was with the tense atmosphere between the two of you just now?" Despite gaining the answer to this seemingly obvious question subtly, Ace was amused by the two of them and their reactions.

"That's because she was so insistent on pestering me?"

"That's because he kept on pushing me away from him."

Hearing their immediate responses which conveyed opposite meanings, Ace couldn't help but laugh.

Yet when his eyes met Cidd's gaze, all he saw in Cidd's eyes was helplessness.

Without Cidd even explaining himself, Ace was able to understand his intentions, but that doesn't mean that he was going to allow Cidd to ruin his own love life.

"Alice, do you mind if we speak privately for a few moments?" Ace asked Alice who agreed readily as Cidd stepped out of the room unwillingly.

"Alice, just what exactly do you see in Cidd? For someone of your caliber, what type of man in this world would be able to enchant you this much?"

"You see, in this entire world, there are those who respect me. Men court me for either my authorities, my strength, or my beauty. But Cidd was the only one who developed true feelings for me."

"How are you so certain that he's in love with you? Like what you have said, isn't he pushing you away from him?"

"That's because he has no other choice, five years ago, he accepted a challenge against another man who was determined to win my heart, to be more exact, my beauty and authorities."

"How strong is that man?" Ace asked in concern, especially when he knows just how much potential Cidd has in the cultivation path.

"When that man was twenty three years of age five years ago, he was already a Martial Emperor. By the time of the challenge, it wouldn't be a surprise if that man is already a Martial Ancestor. For that, he has been rejecting me."

Alice explained with a brittle smile, her heart aching for the man she loved. He was putting his life on the line for her sake, yet trying to protect her maiden heart from any further harm.

"I see, don't worry, as his sect master, helping him defeat that love rival of his is one of my responsibilities."

Opening the doors, Ace looked at Cidd into the eyes.

"Sect master, has Alice told you everything?" Cidd asked calmly as though the upcoming ordeal wasn't worth mentioning.

"She did, but don't worry, you have this sect master of yours around for a reason after all." Ace assured.

"Sect master, this is a challenge I must partake in myself."

"I understand, which is why, in these five years, get ready to experience hell just like the other disciples. With your talent, defeating that love rival of yours in five years isn't impossible."

Cidd's body quivered, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down as he swallowed a deep gulp of saliva.

"Sect master, are you serious about this? You do know how ambitious of a goal that is, do you?"

"Don't worry, you're doing it for Alice while I'm doing it for Charlotte. We have a common goal in mind, that would suffice. You know, sometimes, I really view all of you as my brothers and siblings."

Ace said with a heartwarming smile which calmed Cidd down as he walked up to Alice who had tears streaming down her face.

"Why are you crying?" Cidd asked concernedly, his hand reaching out to her face as he wiped the tears of her face and pulled her into his embrace.

"Cidd…"

"I'm sorry, please forgive me for my selfish actions and decisions. From today onwards, let me love you with everything I have, you're my everything and that is a fact which will remain unchanged."

"Yea…"

"Boom!"