Eternal Thief

Afterward, Ace observed Eva, and he could feel her aura going through a huge change. It was like she was turning into law itself, but slightly different.

'So, this is what happens when someone is through an elemental state. Her innate law seemed to be changing her body and soul. This law is almost the same as the law in the Abyss trial but slightly weak.

'If I can continue to observe her breakthrough, I might be able to comprehend this law and even break the 99.99% limit on some of my darkness-related laws. But I don't know how long it will take her to break through, and I'm out of time, so I need to hurry and take full advantage of this chance to search for the Mortal Sky Ascension Temple!'

Ace's heart was heavy after knowing the consequence of delaying his mission anymore. He didn't want Eva to descend into an abyss where he wouldn't be able to find her for who knows how long; he would never be at ease!

Thereby, Ace used his ability to exit this secret hall without tripping any alarm or defensive formation of the palace. Using the fate map, Ace decided to follow the compass arrow as he believed it was leading him toward the ascension temple.

The Imperial Palace was ridiculously large, and danger was at every corner. But most security was focused on the entry points of the palace, especially since the Imperial Family was alerted of his presence by Sofia.

If they knew Ace was already led inside by none other than the Empress herself, no one knows how they would feel.

The secret hall that leads to the secret realm was hidden underneath the Imperial Palace, which was the most secure and secretive place of the Imperial Palace. Besides the Emperor, no one was allowed here without permission.

'It's like a gigantic maze…' Ace mused as he gravely followed the compass arrow direction, and after crossing several long corridors filled with magic torches, he suddenly stopped.

In front of him was a towering gray door, but what made Ace astonished was the creature slumbering in front of this door.

It was a huge black tiger with golden strips, and there were a pair of golden horns over his head and a pair of eagle-like black-golden wings folded on his back. Although it was sleeping, its pressure was enough to make even a Law Comprehension Realm expert retreat in fear.

'A late-stage law comprehension Demonic Winged Tiger! How in the hell did that tame this demonic beast and turn it into a guard dog?! It is even more terrifying than the fully mature Grim Winged Serpent! It's resident pressure almost on the level of that Silver Wyvern!' Ace's expression was grave.

He had already annexed a huge amount of knowledge from the Principal Tower, and he was aware of the demonic beasts' species of the Sky Heart Plains.

This Demonic Winged Tiger was supposed to be one of the most terrifying overlords of demonic beasts residing in the Berserker Beast Mystery Plain. Yet such a beast was now guarding a dog in the Imperial Palace!

Ace could also assassinate it in its sleep, but this would be troublesome since he didn't know if this would alert someone or if someone came here, they would instantly know about the presence of an intruder.

'The arrows are pointing in the direction of that door, and since this Demonic Winged Tiger is protecting this place, there has to be some huge secret behind this door…' Ace mused, 'I can pass through that door as long as it's grade-8 or below, I just need to be extra careful not to awake this beast, or it'll alert everyone in the imperial palace!'

Using his fully mastered soul stealth with his newly awakened darkness rule, even he wasn't sure just how powerful his current stealth was. It might be almost on the level of his Devil's Horn summoning ability!

The demonic winged tiger was over twenty meters in size, and it was completely blocking the door while only leaving some gap in the top. So, if Ace wanted to pass it, he could only go by flying over it.

He used the sky steps to keep his Qi to a minimum and slowly walked in the air towards the door while his attention was focused on the sleeping tiger and its Qi fluctuation.

Ace suddenly sensed a faint disturbance in the tiger's soul fluctuation when he was just inches away. Ace instantly raised his speed, and the next moment, he passed through the door!

The tiger opened its vicious eyes the next moment, and it raised its giant head with a hint of confusion before releasing a powerful martial sense. When it didn't find anything, it went back to sleep.

Once Ace was on the other side, before he could scan his surroundings, the system voice rang, and a panel appeared in front of him!

[Target site related to the Heaven's Stealer Mission has been infiltrated successfully!]

[Did the host want to scan the target site and create a Treasure Blueprint?]

-Requirements:

1. Live Fate Map

2. Thief Point: 100,000,000

3. Time: 90 Minutes

[Proceed/ Cancel]

[NOTE (1): System strongly recommends that Host should make this Treasure Blueprint, which will not only have the target entire map and locations of the treasures available on the site and the main target treasure, but the safest and fastest routes to approach it as well!]

Ace's lips rose at this moment in ecstasy as if he were waiting for this exact notification. Without hesitation, he ordered, "Proceed!"

[Treasure Blueprint Scanning has been started!]

[Time: 89:59]

[Warning: Please don't leave the target range before the scanning is done!]

[Thief Point(s): 2,412,193,115]

Ace finally had a sigh of relief since now he would have complete assurance in finding the ascension temple no matter where it was hidden.

Then Ace finally looked around as he was curious about why the treasure blueprint triggered after entering this place but not the imperial palace.

He was surprised when he saw it was a cavern, its maw a jagged tear in like mountainside. Towering rock walls, etched with ancient veins of glowing mineral deposits, flank the opening, their sheer scale creating a cathedral-like hush.

The air hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and a faint, metallic tang that hints at the secrets hidden within.

Faint light, filtered through the glowing minerals, struggles to penetrate the cavern's depths, casting long, inky shadows across the uneven ground.

But the most eye-catching thing was the path split by a network of water channels. Some mere trickles weave between moss-covered stones, while others, wider and deeper, gurgle, and froth, their currents hinting at the subterranean depths they drain.

The water reflects the dim light, creating a mesmerizing mosaic of glistening ripples and shifting shadows.

The air chills as he approaches, the dampness clinging to his skin. The silence is broken only by the soft drip of water echoing from the cavern's hidden corners, a sound that speaks of eons of erosion and the relentless passage of time.

As Ace surveys the maze of water channels, a sense of anticipation hangs heavy in the air. This was clearly a place of secrets, a hidden world waiting to be explored!