Eternal Thief

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[Warning: Please Refrain from using soul Qi]

[Temporary healing effect cooldown: 489:27:58]

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Ace could only smile bitterly in stillness when he saw the price he had to pay for only using a single soul thread was ten hours! 

He could've used the martial threads, but then Shadow will instantly sense it because of her high cultivation, and only soul thread can escape her detection. 

Furthermore, he didn't dare to tell her he was injured yet, or he would lose his significance greatly. Besides, his passive soul sense's range has also decreased to ten meters from 250 meters because of his damaged soul core.

Ace was waiting for Shadow to jump ships, and once she did this, there was no going back for her. She had to stick with him from then on. 

He quickly suppressed the soul pain and said with a pale face, "I can use this space-skill in a Five-hundred-meter radius. What do you think?" 

"Five hundred meters?!" Shadow was truly stunned when she heard the range of that 'space skill'.

Because it was just too great and only someone at the Soul Manifestation Realm with Space Element probably could pull this off, and the skill also had to be that high level. Besides, Ace was a mere human! 

Ace knew she didn't seem to believe him and probably thought he was desperate and trying to exaggerate his skills to escape from here. 

He quickly assured her, "I know it's unbelievable, but trust me, I can use this skill in a Five-hundred-meter radius. I can even show you once we leave this place to safety." 

Shadow deeply looked at Ace's dark blue eyes, which were as clear as the starry sky, she didn't want to believe him but for some strange reason from the very start, she had this silly feeling that this human was 'attractive' and 'kind'! 

Shadow never felt this kind of emotion before, but the moment she encountered Ace, she had this weird feeling continuously bugging her. That's why she even bothered to question Ace, or she would never talk with anyone, not even Warden Cane. 

Furthermore, when she just examined Ace's mind with her martial sense, that strange feeling intensified, and she couldn't bring herself to hurt him, so she quickly retracted the martial sense and her action shocked even herself. 

That's why she showed killing intent toward Ace because she thought he used bewitch technique on her and thought he was from Devil Race, but he didn't have any Devil Core either, so she quickly discarded that notion. 

But no matter what, she still can't bring herself to attack Ace, and he was even acted sheepishly. That's why she listens to Ace's proposal despite her inner struggle to go as far away from him as possible, but she can't. 

She even thought about betrayal after that feeling intensified, but she still convinced herself that it was all because of Ace's promise, nothing else. But she knew if this was someone else or even a real legendary body demon, she would've never believed or even talk with him. 

<br/>Now that Ace had shown his skill and told her something impossible to believe. But she wanted to believe it and after seeing his clear eyes, she even felt he was the most trustworthy person in this world!   

'Why, why… why did I want to follow him even though I know he was spouting nonsense? How can a human acquire a refinement technique? No, why would I behave or even start a conversation with him? I was never been like this before. 

'But… he had a legendary body despite being a human and even space skill. Furthermore, he seemed quite… reliable. I should take this chance and if he didn't complete his promise, I'll… kill him!' Besides, I have to take revenge, and this is the only way! 

Shadow finally decide after a huge internal struggle, she wanted to take this chance no matter what, and she had this feeling Ace will be her best choice. 

Ace also notice ripples in Shadow's soul, and he suddenly thought of something that he had almost forgotten. He was so much in anxiety and because of the soul injury, he almost forgot he was dealing with demons, a race closely related to… Darkness! 

'How could I forget about… [Charm]!' Ace mind race, 'According to the system, the creature of darkness will have natural goodwill toward me and in those records, demons consider closely related to darkness just like devils! 

'But [Charm] didn't work on those demon guards, nor did on the warden. It didn't work on Shadow as well until now. Does it work according to the difference between cultivation and some conditions? 

'Shadow only showed that strange emotion after she talked with me, and the more I arouse her desire for that refinement technique, the more that strange emotion intensified. But it seemed her strong cultivation resisting [Charm] to some extent, but as long as I can assure her I'll be able to complete her wish, the difference doesn't matter! 

'If I consider it, Eva was the same. She thought I could complete her wish of freedom, and our cultivation difference was also not much at that time. That's why she trusted me quickly. 

'So, with this much information, I can consider [Charm] just doesn't simply work to the fullest on every creature of darkness, but it worked in three stages first, the creature desire, second, if I could fulfill that desire, and last, the trust they put on me to complete that desire!       

'No, there is still something missing. If it was still this simple, the system would never say 'every' creature of darkness, it would say 'some'. I just had to figure it out, since I had too little information.' 

Ace thought about [Charm] deeply, but he knew it wasn't as simple as he considered it, and there was probably more to it than just these three stages he figured out. 

Nevertheless, Ace finally had more confidence in swindle… ahem… pursuing Shadow now. 

Shadow finally declared, "I'll believe you for now, but if I even find the slightest bit of lie in your words, you'll know just what the name 'Demon' means!"

Ace gulped as he knew this woman demon wasn't joking around just by seeing her icy, dark eyes. 'What a scary race.'

"Let's go. I know a secret exit!" Shadow ordered Ace to follow her toward another dark passage.

Although she was still somewhat hesitating, in the end, she gave in to her desire for power and revenge and helped Ace. She would observe him for some time and if he lies to her about anything, she'll make him regret it! 

---

While Ace and Shadow were making their way toward the exit of Demon Duke Mansion. 

Inside, a spacious hall filled with exquisite paintings and decorations, 

Warden Cane was reporting the news about Ace to a Burly Demon with 3,1-meter height, dark blue skin, two feet long sharp antelopes-horns on his forehead, with a head full of blue long hair, and a horrifying aura surrounding him. His purple eyeballs were filled with viciousness and arrogance. 

This was the Demon Duke of this particular territory and also the Chief of Dark Ocean Demon Tribe, Duke Livy Ocean!

The demons didn't have surnames like humans; they used their subspecies as their last name. 

Dark Ocean Demon Tribe was quite prospered because they had a Demon Duke in their ranks and this gave them very high standing among the demon race and also a rich territory to control. The Ocean Demon City was the heart of Ocean Demon Tribe territory.

"Such a thing happened?" Demon Duke Livy's cold eyes instantly narrowed when he heard how Ace appeared right in the middle of his city without being detected by the array. 

"It seemed so, my lord. I have already ordered Shadow to prepare him for interrogation. I wonder what my lord's thoughts on this matter are?" Warden Cane sheepishly inquired. He didn't dare to even breathe loudly in front of Demon Duke Livy, or he'll be dead before he even knows why! 

"Hmph…" Demon Duke Livy harrumphed coldly as a terrifying pressure descended in the hall which made Warden Cane shake uncontrollably despite being a Golden River Core Cultivator! 

"Let's see who dare to infiltrate my territory so brazenly. I'll deal with it myself and then report it to our Demon King!" Demon Duke Livy pull an icy smile on his stern face and stood up like a deadly spear. 

Warden Cane looked toward Demon Duke Livy with deep fear and reverence as he quickly led the way, like a loyal dog. 

Demons respect the strong, but the strong had to be a demon, or they would never bend their head because of the arrogance that comes with being a second hegemony of this world!

In just a few moments, both Livy and Cane reached the Duke Mansion Prison and headed toward the special prison cell where Cane ordered Shadow to imprison Ace!