Eternal Thief

At one of the three large Royal Army harbors, the Octo Harbor,

This place was usually calm, and only when someone from the Imperial Family or a Grand Demon Duke was moving out into the endless sea with a fleet could this harbor be used!

Except for the usual patrolling fleets, this place remained tranquil all year long.

However, today, a large regiment of Demonic Marine Army was present here today and covered every corner of the Octo Harbor as if they were all guarding this place against a terrible enemy.

At the edge of a large empty port, a tall nightmare demon with long hair and a fierce look on his face wore a purple army robe, which was the uniform of the Demonic Marine Army.

This demon was one of three Demonic Marine Generals, and he was in charge of Octo Harbor, Demonic General Alessandro.

Two more demons donned in full-body purple color armor were standing behind him straight. They were his deputy generals.

It clearly wasn't normal to have a Demonic General appear here unless it was an extremely important matter, or the order was from the Imperial Demon Council!

Imperial Demon Council was the decision-maker of the Almighty Demon Empire, and they held power the same as the Demon Emperor. The Royal Demon Council in the outer provinces was a small branch of the Imperial Demon Council.

But unlike the Royal Demon Council, which has branches all over the empire, the Imperial Demon Council only has one headquarters, which was in the Demon Emperor Domain!

The members of the Imperial Demon Council were called the Elder Demons, and they were all scary existences and never appeared in the public eye, and only the Demon Emperor knew their identities!

The demons present on Octo Harbor were all looking at the clear sea with grim expressions on their faces.

At this moment, a silhouette of a ship appeared far in the sea. It was still quite far from the port.

However, no one seemed surprised by seeing that ship. On the contrary, all the soldiers emitted a murderous aura as if they were deranged by whoever was on that ship.

Demonic General Alessandro's eyes went icy as he declared, "Look alive, the Devils are here!"

---

The Royal Demon Institute,

Ace and the others crossed the bridge, and after crossing another barrier, they finally stepped onto the institute campus.

In front was a lush forest, and between this forest were four roads with different signboards, each route leading toward a different house's campus.

Four demons in front of each road were waiting with large carriages, and these carriages didn't have any beasts pulling them.

Mylah smiled and said, "Everyone, please head toward the roads with your respective house's signboards. The one with Martial Arts House can follow me." She suddenly glanced at Archie and smiled ambiguously. "If fate permits, we might meet again."

Ace squinted his eyes as he was feeling something was amiss. But this won't stop him from going forward. If he could sense Mylah's cultivation, he might've tried to soul probe her, but he didn't dare to take the risk.

He had already aware of treasures that could block soul senses or even soul search. His Demonic Eater Mask was a such treasure, so he won't risk exposure just to quench his curiosity.

"Let's compete again." Charles left this last sentence for Archie before he goes toward the Martial Arts House.

Hugo also nodded before he goes toward Martial Weapon House.

Archie with Lucas and Nancy, moved toward the carriage of Soul Assassin House and the soul life demon on the soul combatant house side was the only one left with no students.

However, he didn't seem frustrated at all and seeing there wasn't anyone who joined the Soul Combatant House, he shot a glance at Archie's group and moved toward his carriage so he could return and report back.

The demon who received Archie's group was a nightmare demon with a handsome face. He was in special student attire, and when he saw three students coming his way, his eyes lit up.

Especially seeing Archie wearing the special student's attire, but his expression remains stoic.

"Senior." They greeted him respectfully. This person was a special student, so no one wanted to get on his bad side.

He nodded expressionlessly, "My name is Jefferson, and I'm a second grad special student. Let's go. We'll talk on our way toward the Soul Assassin House Campus."

Afterward, they embarked on the carriage, and a runic plate appeared in Jefferson's hand. The moment he used that runic plate, the carriage suddenly moved at a high speed.

Then Jefferson suddenly spoke while looking at Archie, "So, you decided to join our Soul Assassin House in the end, huh? Housemaster would be quite pleased."

Ace was startled when he heard this. "Housemaster? I don't know. I had become so popular without even entering the institute." He smiled wryly and lamented.

The other two rolled their eyes at Archie's narcissism but were still shocked that he gained the attention of a Housemaster.

Jefferson nodded and said, "You're new, so it's only natural you didn't know this, but whenever a special grade level student appeared, it was announced by the institute.

"It served both as a welcome and a warning toward the other house's geniuses, whoever this genius ends up standing against.

"However, just as you said, it wasn't enough to draw the attention of a housemaster, since they're only interested in core grade-level students."

Ace's eyes narrowed when he heard this somewhat forbidding feeling emerge in his heart.

"Senior, you mean is?" He asked, pretending to be surprised.

Jefferson replied expressionlessly, "If I'm correct, then you might be at the peak of the platinum river core realm, right?"

Ace knew hiding Archie's cultivation didn't matter anymore, so he nodded. "Yes."

Jefferson's lips suddenly curled at this moment as he said, "You see, the minimum condition for becoming a core grade student is having a Soul Realm Cultivation before the age of a hundred. So, you still had the chance to become a core grade student."

Ace was surprised by this revelation. Because the public did not know this matter and a student of the royal demon institute couldn't talk about the institute's internal affairs with those of none members, it would be akin to breaking the soul contract.

Lucas and Nancy were also shocked when they heard this.

Lucas's expression went hideous. 'This bastard is really lucky. But this also means I don't need to make lies to join hands with Daniel. He'll surely try to eliminate or suppress this bastard and not let him reach the same status as him.

Ace suddenly understood why Mylah was giving him a strange feeling, while he also sensed some hostility from that demon who came from the Soul Combatant House side.

"So, as long as I can break into the Soul Realm, I can be a core-grade student?" He asked with fake excitement.

Jefferson nodded in affirmation. "Yes, this is the easiest way to enter the ranks of core grade students. Daniel Soul Life also used this way to join the ranks of Soul Combatant House's core grade class.

"Moreover, that guy has a terrifying talent in runic combat, and most people believed he could've entered the core class with this base as well."

Jefferson's expression went cold as he looked at Lucas and Nancy all of a sudden, before he ordered, "You two trash, go in the back room. You heard enough."

Lucas and Nancy felt their hearts tremble with Jefferson's icy glare and didn't dare to retort despite feeling humiliated, but they left with their heads low.

It was the harsh truth of the Royal Demon Institute. Without status, you're just trash in the superior student's eyes.

If not for Archie's presence, a special-class student like Jefferson would've never come to pick up a mere ordinary student.

Jefferson's change in attitude also astonished Ace.

After they were left alone, Jefferson went on, "Anyhow, you also have a chance, so I suggest not to waste it and try to break into the soul realm as soon as possible. But it won't be easy since some core grade students might not enjoy having to share their benefits with one more person and might try something." He warned.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Ace felt this guy didn't have any reason to warn Archie, so there had to be some kind of purpose.

Jefferson's expression turned deep. "I was briefed to approach you if you joined the Soul Assassin House by another Core Student. I can't tell you the identity, but know this: no one dared to offend this person.

"This person had taken a keen interest in you and wanted to help you in your predicament with only one condition: your utmost loyalty!"

Ace's eyes narrowed. "My predicament? What kind of predicament? Senior, I know you and that person have good intentions, but I don't want to become a core student, so I should be out of trouble, right?"

This unexpected answer startled Jefferson, but he soon shook his head. "I'm afraid your problem is not just core students!"