Eternal Thief

Today, the night sky was filled with dark clouds while icy winds were blowing and the clouds were rumbling occasionally.

Everyone knew it was going to be a stormy, rainy night, but the Ocean Demon City was bustling with activities as those cultivator demons didn't feel the cold of winter.

Ace was currently walking on the ocean demon city's streets in stealth, and no one could see him at all as he passed them. He looked like someone on a stroll.

'This city is more than twice the size of Iron Demon City, and there's a strong defensive formation surrounding it. Livy used it last time to entrap us. I also have one of their legacy formation in my hand, but my run crafter rank is too low to repair it.' Ace thought as he scrutinized the city.

Ace was clearly planning his thievery. He wasn't worried about the treasury location because of Noa, nor he was worried about their escape route. Now, all he had to do now was to make sure no one get in his way.

Furthermore, he was looking for 'faces' and this time he wasn't just looking for some random faces, he was looking for faces that will not draw any attention but also help me get close to Livy!

Because not only did he have to steal a treasury of the demon duke tribe, but he had to steal the tribe chief storage ring as well and Livy was the tribe chief of the ocean demon tribe, so he also had to make sure he flawlessly completed this mission.

That's why he was going toward the quarters of all those young demons who were here to join the Ocean Demon Duchy's team. What could be a better place than this for Ace to look for a face that will indefinitely come in contact with Livy in a few weeks?

At this moment, the system's voice rang in his mind.

<strong>======</strong>

<strong>[Hundred-Face Deception Mask upgrade has been completed with the item upgrade token!]</strong>

<strong>--</strong>

<strong>[Thousand-Face Mask: Grade 3 Rune Item]</strong>

<strong>-Ability(s): It can save 1000 faces in the [Grade-2 Memory Gem]. It can also increase and decrease cultivation realms according to the wearer's will. The cultivation realms are only limited to the Golden River Core Realm (Soul & Martial)  </strong>

<strong>-Limit(s): It can deceive Qi Soul Manifestation Cultivators, Soul Embryo Cultivators, and Grade-6 Detection Runes!  </strong>

<strong>--  </strong>

<strong>[Current Save Faces: 6]</strong>

<strong>======</strong>

Ace couldn't help but smile gleefully after seeing the new Thousand-Face Mask. He finally decided to use the item upgrade token on this mask because, after some deep considerations, he deemed this mask was his biggest defensive wall and if it was strong enough, he'll be able to fool anyone as long as he acted according to the situation.

Furthermore, Ace also considered he wasn't using this mask to its full potential at all for all this time, and he only used it as a cover to hide his appearance when he could do far more with it.

Besides, Ace knew he would eventually come in contact with a soul manifestation realm cultivator or even over one, and there might be one on his tail right now.

So, he was afraid the Hundred-Face Deception Mask wasn't enough to protect his identity anymore. That's why he quickly decided to upgrade it.

Now, he doesn't have to worry about getting found out. Even if some soul manifestation realm demon saw him, they won't be able to see through this mask.

Ace smiled coldly while thought, 'I should get to work now.'

Inside the Ocean Demon Duke Estate,

On the east part of the estate, there were guest quarters, and right now they were half filled with the promising youths of the ocean demon duchy and their attendants.

This place was the most secure place in Ocean Demon City because no one thought someone would dare to break inside a demon duke territory.

However, they were wrong as someone was already entered this area despite a strong detection array protecting all of the Ocean Demon Duke Estate. Furthermore, all those patrolling guards didn't even notice when this intruder entered their registration room, where all the information about those youths was stored!

Ace looked at the big white registration crystal and smile faintly since it was nighttime no one could enter the duke's estate nor exit. So, this room was empty, and only two guards were protecting it.

But Ace had already probed the memories of one of the head guards, and he now knew every corner of the ocean demon duke's estate, so it was very easy for him to reach this place.

After making sure no one was paying attention to this room, Ace quickly active the white crystal, which was square and two feet in diameter, like a white screen.

Thereupon, charters appeared on the white crystal screen.

'Please sweep your access crystal card.'

Ace was already expecting this security measure, and a white crystal card with runes appeared in his hand. He just 'borrowed' it from one of the guards outside.

Ace quickly sweep the card in a small slit beside the white crystal screen and the screen instantly changed, and he saw many sections of information, like visitors, family member entries and exits, guard entries and exits.

Ace quickly select visitors with his finger and an extensive list appeared with red and yellow names. The red name means the visitor was already inside the duke's estate, while the yellow means they left.

Ace quickly gazed at the large red list which has been updated regularly, and he was astonished when he saw over three hundred demons staying inside the guest quarters and there were over five hundred attenders with these demons.

But Ace's job become easy when he saw the neatly arranged information as these important demon names.

<strong>'Lilly of Black Flower Demon Clan, Age: 75, Cultivation: Compete Qi River Realm. Attribute: Dark Wood, Room allocated: 406.</strong>

<strong>'Mark of Shadowless Demon Clan, Age: 43, Cultivation: Flowing Qi River Realm, Attribute: Shadow, Room allocated: 505  </strong>

<strong>'Andra of…</strong>

Ace quickly skim through this list and select a few for his plan, and he didn't leave those attendants alone either.

After making sure he got everything he wanted, he quickly turned off the crystal and with the thief's charity reverse, the white crystal card from his hand vanished and appeared in the guard's pocket without him noticing a thing.

Ace quickly exit through the glass window, which was protected by a small alarming array, but he easily opened it with his treasure-opening hands, and he quickly closed it as well. Now, no one could tell someone just broke in and then exit.

Now, Ace's destination was the guest quarters.

He quickly reached a tall building that looked like a luxurious hotel, and guards were standing in front of the main door. The building was surrounded by small traps and arrays, which naturally can't hinder Ace in any way.

Ace quietly enter the building from the back and saw a big reception hall right between two stairs going upward toward the second floor. He took the stairway without being noticed by the receptionist, who was a first stage iron river core cultivator!

Ace saw on the second floor were rows of rooms in the large corridor, and there were small golden number plates in those rooms.

'There are five hundred rooms on the first three floors allocated to the servants, so straight to the fourth floor, the VIP floor!' without any hesitation, he strides through the stairs and quickly entered the fourth floor, which was much more spacious than the other three floors.

There was a wide corridor beautifully decorated with blue shining marble and some paintings and decoration.

There were only twenty rooms on this floor. One of Ace's main targets was in room 402!

He vividly remembered the details about this demon,

<strong>'Feng of Demon Sword Clan, Age: 51, Cultivation: Compete Qi River Realm. Attribute: Dark Earth, Room allocated: 402.</strong>

<strong>'Extra Details: Dual Sword Wielder, Arrogant, Highly Talented, First Born of his house, A ruthless personality, …'  </strong>

Ace specifically chose this demon because first, he used dual swords, and second; he had an earth element that perfectly sat with him because although he can take a demon appearance, he can't mimic their attribute Qis if he doesn't have it himself, that is.

That's why to make his disguise more flawless he chose this exact demon because he matched him perfectly, and he can also use the earth element Qi as well, so no one would discover any flaw in him as well.

Furthermore, Ace wasn't just thinking about the momentary benefits he will get from Ocean Demon Dukedom, but he was thinking about the future benefits he'll get if he used this identity very carefully!

Ace knocked on Feng's door as he was now standing without his stealth while his long hood was on, with a faint wintry smile on his handsome face.

"Which bastard is disturbing this young master's rest?!" A vexed voice sounded with a hint of irritation before one could hear footsteps coming toward the door.