Preliminary rounds starts, strength gauging pillar (3/3)

"The Nirvana Sect? I have never heard of them, are they a new cultivation sect?"

"Let's see, based on the manual I have here, the Nirvana Sect was only established around nine months ago and if that's the case, that means that this sect has only developed for only nine months."

"Nine months and they're into the Wolf Tier, just watch, they'll definitely put up a spectacular performance." One of the sect masters who had his sect done well with everyone passing through the official rounds sneered.

"The sect master over there, please mind your words, at the very least, don't jump to any conclusions." Ace who heard that sect master from afar rebutted calmly, his eyes glancing towards the direction Garen had left in.

Even though Garen had only been a disciple of his sect for a short period of a few months, Ace knew his disciples well enough to know that being late was out of the question for them, if this was the case, then something had most likely cropped up.

But since his sect was called out to be next, Ace had no choice but to play things by the ear in order to stall time until Garen returns. Garen, if you come to any harm, that person will pay the price regardless of the consequences.

It wasn't just a selfish thought from Ace alone, but a shared thought of silence in everyone's mind and since there was a sect master foolish enough to help them out, they wouldn't mind catching the bait.

"You're just a young sect master who managed to recruit a few young talents and some strong elders to step into the Wolf Tier of cultivation forces, what are you barking for when you being here is already a blessing in the first place?"

"Young boy, I'm afraid that most of us will have to take his stand. If you really want to blame someone, then blame yourself for rising this quickly when we've taken tens and even hundreds of years to achieve what we have today."

The leaders from other cultivation forces and cultivation sects joined the side of that sect master, with only a small portion of the sects and cultivation forces too bothered to interfere with this matter.

As for his alliance partner, the Paladin Haven, Ace had signalled for Malene to wait patiently and stay passive.

Malene buried the curiosity trying to burrow out of the soil as she scanned around, only to realise that only six of Ace's disciples are present out of the seven youths.

"Don't worry, I'll get Fawkes to bring him here right away, you may not know about it, but when it comes to locating a certain someone or object, no one can beat Fawkes to it."

Malene assured, transmitting her plan to Fawkes who took the first step before coming to a halt.

Fawkes wrinkled his brows in deep concentration, before transmitting a message to both Malene and Ace at the same time, "Garen is with the Legacy Paladin and will be here shortly, all of you should get onto the stage first."

Ace nodded his head, in the end, not being a Martial Lord was extremely inconvenient since he had no way to communicate with others.

"None of you had to bother with my sect in the first place, but since things have already come to this stage, open your eyes wide and prepare to see what it really means to be called a rising star rebirthed from the ashes."

Turning around with a leap onto the platform with his disciples following behind, he treated those who looked down on the Nirvana Sect as nothing but air, as though the minor conflict was nothing but a joke.

Ruby, being the one and only person with combat experience lesser than other youths here, was the first one to get ready as she took a deep breath to calm down her palpitating heart.

She could hear her own rapid breathing and sense the intense pressure with eyes dawning on her, but when she met the warm gaze from someone of the same bloodline as her, confidence returned to her once again as energy surged within her body.

Withdrawing her scythe which was her weapon, she leaped into the air and with a circular slash while forming a crescent gleaming scarlot, carrying the ferocious intent of the white tiger while containing the essence of herself, a blood ruby to never be underestimated.

"Bling!"

"Bling!"

"Bling!"

In terms of comparison compared to Grace, her performance was only lacklustre in terms of crowd impact and amazement, but if there was one thing about her that probably stood out too much, it was the fact that her move was simple without any additional movements.

"Sect master Ace, just because you want your sect to stand out doesn't mean that you should have your strongest disciple marking the first impression just because she is weaker than the rest." The man who had started the conflict attempted to stir up trouble, but before he could comment on anything else, a deafening silence filled the air.

"Growl!"

The sound of a majestic tiger silenced the crowd as they stared at it in awe.

But because that particular sect master was causing a commotion, it resulted in most people missing the grand sight of all nine gems being awakened at once. But that was the terrifying part, this could only mean that the youth they're seeing right now, was capable of hiding his aura from them even though it should be something unique to assassins.

"Sect master Coy, we have missed the exciting moment thanks to you for blabbering for some nonsense which distracted us!"

"That's right sect master Coy, if you want to continue causing trouble, go ahead and send yourself towards the Nirvana Sect, the rest of us will be taking our leave first!"

The sect master who was causing trouble, Coy, was left speechless as he kept his mouth shut and just like the others, his eyes were attracted to the platform with Luke who was holding his sword, his sword held at an irregular angle with the sword tip pointing towards his back.

Gripping the sword in a weird fashion, he took out another sword and with the dual swords ready, he spun them upwards and easily tore through the strength gauging pillar and even though the strength gauging pillar was restored immediately, everyone was still shocked while the masked announcer was smiling beneath the mask.

Next up was Alexander who revealed his true weapon ever since he inherited the legacy of the Azure Dragon. A crescent sabre which embodied the life and death essence of the Azure Dragon.

His aura exploded exponentially, the air around him being blown away, his aura constantly on the rise and with a determined grip such that the veins on his trained arm could be seen, the strength gauging pillar exploded.

"That's enough, for the remaining two and the elders, please wait as the reinforced strength gauging pillars are exchanged with the current ones. Take note that nine gems on this previous pillar, would only be equivalent to six gems on this other pillar."

"Sect master, sorry for the wait!"

Ray descended from the sky and interrupted the conversation, wings of holy energy behind his back, his body was exuding a sense of holy aura similar to Grace just now.

Grace who was beneath the platform resting with her eyes closed opened her eyes in shock when she sensed the aura similar to hers, no one else besides her two masters and her know of this secret, even they were shocked right now as though a tidal wave had just whammed into them unexpectedly with a concealed secret to be unravelled.

"Master, did the Legacy Paladin…"

"Grace, I don't know what exactly caught the attention of the Legacy Paladin either, though I have to admit that young man has the good looks with golden hair, if I was any younger, I might even steal him from you. Don't worry, I have faith that Ace wouldn't have chosen the wrong person, his heart is just too pure to be sullied with the evil trapped outside."

"Divine Blast!"

Ray's attack was simple, just a beam of light which fully destroyed the new strength gauging pillar and as though that wasn't enough, it was destroyed again and again until it went beyond the point of restoration.

"It seems that I would have to gauge the strength of your attack power by myself as a Martial King. Come at me, I'll give you the fair judgement as the creator and master of the strength gauging pillars."

The masked announcer said coldly as he stepped onto the stage, his eyes revealing discontent as he looked down on Lancelot who was slightly shorter than him,

"Tribulations and punishment, celestial beings shall cease to exist one day when the tribulations gain the strength to purify and cleanse them of all evil."

"Those who murder the innocent. Die!"

"Those who betray their loved ones. Die!"

"Those who went against moral rules. Perish!"

"Three minor tribulations!" Lightning gathered around Lancelot as charged towards the masked announcer with his spear in hand, his spear colliding against the mysterious barrier put up by the man.

"I'm not done yet, second strike!"

Lancelot was going full out and even though it had no point, the elders and Ace just kept their calm and watched, his juniors believing in their senior, Lancelot who will achieve a miracle.

"Young boy, you have done well for your cultivation base, but wanting to attain the strength of a Martial Lord right now is just…"

*Crack*

Hearing the crack in this barrier he had formed casually, shock overwhelmed the masked announcer who was struck squarely in the chest by surprise even though all it did was knock him backwards.

"Amazing...amazing! Very well, the two elders, please show me what you got!"

The masked announcer broke out in frenzy laughter, arrogance and excitement in his eyes as he waited for Arith and Clarissa to make their move.

"Sorry, but due to orders from our sect master, we will only be going at it casually."

Arith spoke on behalf of Clarissa as well with them striking the barrier put up by the man, each of them attaining the attack power of a Martial Spirit.

"Seriously?" The masked announcer blurted out, but still stared at Ace in suspense.

"Young boy, please prove yourself worthy!"