Eternal Thief

Ace crouched down and just as he placed his hand on this dark crystalline floor, he heard an astonished notification from the system at that very instant.

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[High Grade-4 Soul Crystal Source has been detected!]

-Requiring permission for the host to absorb the Soul Crystal Source

[Yes/No]

Reward(s):

1. 10 Million Soul Points

2. The host will be able to absorb Soul Points from Soul Crystals (From Grade-0 to Grade-4)

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'What!?' Ace was nonplussed by this revelation.

Soul Crystal Source and Qi Stone Vein were the primary sources of Soul Crystals or Soul Stones and Qi Stones in this world, and every one of these sources was monopolized by powerful tribes and influences.

Just a low-grade-1 Qi stone vein can cause a huge war between tribes, not to talk about the rare Soul Crystal Source.

Even a low-level soul crystal was quite precious because of its myriad uses in soul alchemy and rune crafting and, most importantly, Soul Cultivation.

There weren't even ten of such soul crystal sources in the entire eight regions and none of them were a grade-4 much less a high-grade one that can produce high grade-4 soul crystals!

Furthermore, Ace never thought the system could unlock the function of converting Soul Crystals into SP just by absorbing them.

Ace couldn't help but asked, "System, did this mean as long as I can absorb a Qi stone vein, I can also absorb EXP from Qi stones as well? And didn't you tell me this before?"

Ace was feeling vexed all of a sudden. After all, if he knew this sooner he would've raided all those secret mines, and then he didn't have to worry about acquiring EXP anymore because he had billions of Qi stones!

"[Yes, as long as the host absorbed any grade of Soul Crystal Source and Qi Stones Vein, the host can convert the same rank or lower ranks, Soul Crystal and Qi Stones into SP and EXP.]

"[However, as the host cultivation realm increases to the lower ranks, Qi Stones and Soul Crystal Source will be deemed useless by the system just like lower grade materials.]

"[As for the classification of these limitations, they are directly related to cultivation realms. Like Grade-1 or lower grade, Qi Stones or Soul Crystals can be used in First Realm (Gates Realm). Grade-2 in Second Realm, up to Eighth Realm, where only Grade-8 or higher-level Qi Stones and Soul Crystal can be absorbed and turned into either EXP or SP.]

"[Just like right now, if the host absorbed this High Grade-4 Soul Crystal Source host will be able to convert Grade-3 and Grade-4 Soul Crystals into SP, all small ranks included.]"

"So, you mean even if I absorbed a low-grade-5 soul crystal source or Qi stone vein, I will be able to convert them into EXP and SP even if I have peak-grade-5 Qi stones and Soul Crystals.

"Furthermore, as long as I absorbed a higher-grade soul crystal source or Qi stone vein, all the grades below that rank will become convertible? Simply put, if I somehow absorbed a grade-9 soul crystal source and Qi stone vein, I didn't have to worry about absorbing another lower grade soul crystal source or Qi stone vein anymore, right?" Ace questioned.

He had already understood what the system was implying here. This was truly a tremendous boon for him, as long as he could convert Qi stones and soul crystals into EXP and SP.

The limitation of the cultivation realm doesn't matter to him because he knew as long as he achieved higher realms, he'll move on to another place where his needs can be fulfilled.

"[Yes, as long as the host absorbed a Grade-9 Qi stone vein and soul crystal sauce, the host didn't need to worry about levels below them anymore.]"

"But you still hide this kind of beneficial information for me? If I haven't stumbled upon this soul crystal source with Moira's help, who knows how long I would've taken to discover it!" Ace was perplexed as he complained.

But just as always, no reply was given, which made him cuss even more.

'Anyhow, I have to admit this glittering silver fate point was really useful for me. Or I could say it was a life-changer. Now I finally understand just how precious and useful this Live Fate Map is to me.

'If a silver point revealed this kind of secret hidden in the system, then what about that golden fate point?' Ace felt goosebumps all over just thinking about how he created a golden fate point accidentally, 'I have to make sure to follow that demoness and even protect her, I can't lose this golden opportunity!'

Ace had already decided to help Alora as long as she could guide him to that golden location after realizing the worth of these fate points!

"Since this is the case, start absorbing and use the sufficient number of martial pills to match the soul points amount. This is a good place to breakthrough and no one could disturb me." Ace command.

He knew ten million soul points were enough to make him reach the last stage of both cultivation realms, and this place was quiet and with no life form around to disturb his breakthrough.

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[Absorption process has been started…]

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Ace suddenly felt a suction force from his hand and the very next moment, a vortex of soul Qi entered his body and then his true soul.

Within a minute,

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[Congratulation, host, on achieving the eighth stage of Heavenly Sea Realm and eighth stage of Orange Soul Form!]

[Host status has been updated]

[Martial Cultivation: Heavenly Dark Sea [Stage-8]]

[EXP: 5,000,000/5,000,000]

[Soul Cultivation: Orange Wind Soul Core [Stage-8]]

[SP: 5,000,000/5,000,000]

=====

The vortex of soul Qi became even bigger than all the soul Qi around entered Ace's mind space at an even more fast pace and Ace could feel the power was growing, and he was also reaching the limit of Heavenly Dark Sea Realm and Orange Wind Soul Core.

Fifteen more minutes passed, and the system's voice sounded again.

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[Congratulation, host, on achieving the ninth stage of Heavenly Sea Realm and ninth stage of Orange Soul Form!]

[Host status has been updated]

[Martial Cultivation: Heavenly Dark Sea [Stage-9]]

[EXP: 4,970,000/10,000,000]

[Soul Cultivation: Orange Wind Soul Core [Stage-9]]

[SP: 4,970,000/10,000,000]

[Elemental Orb: 0/1]

=====

Ace's martial space was now filled with dark liquid Qi, which means he was at the peak of the Heavenly Dark Sea Realm and only a step away from the next realm. His soul core was glowing, and it has also reached its limit.

The soul Qi around the area also completely vanished, and the crystalline surface has somehow turned into sand.

The system has absorbed the entire soul crystal source with every soul crystal in it, leaving nothing.

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[High Grade-4 Soul Crystal Source has been completely absorbed!]

[Host can now convert Soul Crystals into SP from Grade-0 to Grade-4 according to host cultivation realm limit.]

=====

Ace finally opened his eyes, and his lips curved into a stratifying smile. 'Now I don't have to worry about finding another soul crystal source until I reached the fifth realm. I just have to find a grade-4 Qi stone vine as well. But first I have to find another elemental orb… again.'

Ace felt like a colossal headache coming over the moment he thought about the Elemental Orb. He hated nothing more than finding an Elemental Orb because it was just too dangerous not to talk about. He had no idea where to start or look.

'I have found two elemental orbs in lower lands, but I never encounter even one here… strange, or does the other already take them? It will be even more cumbersome if this is the case since anyone that can overcome all the traps and then take down the elemental guardian has to be extremely powerful,' Ace mused with a grim look.

In the end, he decided to wait before starting his search for the elemental orb, since the demon continent was huge, and he didn't explore even ten percent of it yet, so there wasn't any need to fret over it now.

He swims back to the surface and saw both Alora and Carlee were still unconscious, and quickly retracted the barrier and hid in a tree.

After he found the silver fate point benefits, he wanted nothing to happen to Alora, not until she served her purpose. So, he'll be going to wait until she regained her consciousness and then followed her for some time.

He just wanted to make sure the golden fate location didn't appear here, although the chances of it happening were almost zero since he just found a silver fate location. He just wanted to make sure.

Afterward, he will then leave her alone for the time being and focus on the competition and finding Thomas.

Then there was also the case of Santos's death.

Although he was sure he didn't leave behind anything and Alora won't be foolish enough to reveal it either, he still wanted to prepare for the worse and arrange a vindicated!