Eternal Thief

Riana looked at Ace with an ashen expression and a bit hard on her cherry lips. She had never felt this helpless in front of someone before. This feeling was the same as that existence, but unlike her, he didn't have any gentle or friendly aura.

Taking a deep breath, she finally decided and started to speak, "Alright, but you need to guarantee that you won't harm me in any way after I reveal this information to you and, if possible, help me reach the Ascension Altar."

Ace secretly sneered before he didn't show it, as a soul contract appeared in his hand. He threw it to Riana, saying, "You can fill it yourself."

Riana was startled. After confirming that it was a grade-8 soul contract, she quickly used her Qi to fill it in. After ensuring there wasn't any loophole, she threw it back, "Please check the conditions."

Ace glanced at the soul contract before he looked at her meaningfully, "In return for the information, I will not attack you in any way, no matter the circumstance. Didn't this mean you could attack me?

"Furthermore, you seemed to forget about writing what kind of information I wanted, and you would tell me nothing but the truth. This way, you can tell me all kinds of fake information. Now, Princess Riana, I thought a person with your intelligence wouldn't miss such things. No worries; let me correct them for you. After all, losing your intellect is normal in a situation like yours."

Although Ace didn't show it, Riana knew he was scoffing at her paltry tricks. This made her heart tremble a little and even blush in shame. She lost any thought of tricking him anymore.

Ace then altered the contract and threw it back. Although this didn't mean anything to him, he still wanted Riana to give him accurate information, so he had to be discreet to ensure he got what he wanted.

Riana sighed in resignation before she signed the contract. There weren't any conditions binding or threatening her life as long as she told the truth and answered Ace's questions.

Ace did the same, and the contract was finally established.

Ace suddenly waved his hand, and an exquisite table with two chairs appeared between them. Above it, there were wine glasses and bottles. Riana was startled by this action and speechless when she saw Ace leisurely taking a set, pouring wine for himself, and then inviting her to the other chair.

"Please sit; you don't need to worry about anyone coming or seeing us here, for I've already taken care of it." Ace coolly stated, and Riana apprehensively sat down.

Ace picked up a glass and said, "Alright, Princess Riana, let's start with your backer."

Riana held back her urge to roll her eyes and said, "It all started when I was born, and that day, the sky above the golden lion castle was filled with auspicious phenomena.

"This is how the Imperial Family got wind of me, and since my Father was ignorant and the Imperial family didn't come with the attitude of requesting, he let them examine me.

"Because of their rich knowledge and having witnessed such a thing in the past, they instantly confirmed that I was born with a Fantastic Physique. So, just like how the imperial family always did things with talented outsiders, they didn't give an infant a chance to become a thorn in their path.

"They arranged my marriage with their Crown Prince that very day and even used a soul contract to bind my Father. Nonetheless, it was thrilled news for a King to become the Father of the future Empress, so he agreed without hesitation.

"When I was four years old, I experienced my first awakening of my Fantastic Physique, and without any prior knowledge of cultivation, I direction opened nine Soul gates of the Soul Gates Realm and caused another huge phenomenon!

"This alarmed the imperial family, as it surpassed their expectations. They didn't know what kind of Fantastic Physique I had because they didn't have the tools to measure it. So, the only way to learn was through me as I awakened the physique on my own.

"But to awaken a Fantastic Physique, certain steps and prerequisites must be completed, which are different for every physique. However, some extremely powerful physiques started to awaken on their own, which alarmed the imperial family.

"So, this time, they summoned me to the imperial palace and started to investigate, but I had no idea what was happening and was very afraid. In the end, they didn't find any answers.

"But the Empress didn't let the matter rest. She tricked me into signing a soul contract, and not only that, but she secretly branded me with her Soul Brand!" Riana's eyes swirled with killing intent and loathing when she revealed this.

Ace was also astounded by the cruelty of the imperial family; after all, Riana was just a four-year-old child at that time, and to use the soul brand on her was akin to making a child her slave.

"I was just a child, so I didn't overthink about the soul contract and even felt happy that Empress was treating me so well. I also had no idea about the soul brand she planted in me.

"Truth be told, I was pleased about my marriage and dreamt of becoming the Empress, just like in a child's fairy tale. But then, at the age of twelve, I suddenly underwent my second awakening.

"This time, I finally managed to understand the name and nature of my Fantastic Physique when I suddenly activated my innate ability and somehow connected with an entity out of this world, calling herself the Holy Mother!" She revealed solemnly.

Realization dawned on Ace at this moment, but he was also a spectacle, "What kind of physique do you have to connect you to such a being?" He was very curious.

Hesitating momentarily, Riana revealed her biggest secret, "According to the Holy Mother, my Fantastic Physique is called the Astral Stellar Fantastic Physique, which can allow me to peer into the mysteries of stars in the sky.

"Moreover, Holy Mother seemed to have the same fantastic physique, and that's how I connected with her through the stars. She told me that this fantastic physique is extremely rare. I was the only fifteenth person to awaken this fantastic physique since time immemorial.

"Since then, she has guided me, taught me cultivation, and discovered the hidden soul brand in my soul. Since then, I have become aware of the imperial family's disgusting tricks.

"But Holy Mother couldn't help me get rid of the soul contract and soul brand because they had been with me for quite some time and completely assimilated into my soul, especially the soul brand.

"She also said it would alert some kind of causality law if she helped me, and I might lose my power. That's why I joined the army to search for a method to get rid of that soul brand so that I could be free. But it was far easier said than done, and I also couldn't kill the Empress or take any action against the imperial family because of the soul contract and soul brand.

"If it weren't for Holy Mother, I would've suffered a backlash just by thinking about how to get rid of the soul brand. In the end, I found nothing, and then Holy Mother told me to start collecting materials to undergo a third awakening of my physique. She would help me awaken another ability to help me in my current predicament.

"It took me nearly a decade to secretly collect all those materials, and then I was finally able to undergo my third awakening. But I didn't let anyone get the wind of it. The ability I awoke to after this awakening, with the help of the Holy Mother, is called Star Reading.

"This allows me to read stars like divination, but I can only read about matters related to me. It would've taken me a very long time to master this ability if it hadn't been for Holy Mother, and I could finally deduce some clues about the solution to my problem.

"This solution brought me to the Sky Abyss Secret Realm, which was also cut off from the outside laws so Holy Mother could use some of her power.

"Ultimately, she helped me find a mighty treasure in the Sky Abyss Secret Realm. Then, by sacrificing the wisp of consciousness she had within me for years, she managed to bond it to my soul, and my curse was finally broken.

"But before she vanished, she used the last bit of her power to increase my cultivation to the limit and gave me that Star Compass to bring me to the ascension altar.

"However, depending on the altar's location and any danger in the way, I will use the star compass's power more. In the end, I brought it here, and before it could lead me to the altar, it had exhausted all of its power. You had witnessed it yourself!"

Riana finally concluded her story as she looked deeply at Ace!