Eternal Thief

When Pen heard Ace's confident words imbued with heavenly thunder law and killing intent, even someone like him who stood at the pinnacle of the world felt his heart churning. 

If he hadn't experienced the heavenly thunder himself, he might've already attacked Ace because of his arrogance. Now, he was really confused about whether the heavenly thunder was natural or Ace was an old monster like him. 

Furthermore, one of Ace's thief titles, [Cold Liar], was also in effect, which made Pen sink even deeper into Ace's deception. 

Now, he would attack while keeping in mind that if he failed, he might die, and this result was exactly what Ace was looking for. 

"Please forgive my previous transgression. I was way out of line because I never met someone like you before, and I no longer wished for us to fight." Pen tried to hide his fear as he sternly stated while secretly circulating his Qi just in case Ace turned out to be as unreasonable as himself. 

Ace almost laughed out of loud when he heard and saw just how vigilance Pen was, not to mention a coward despite his ridiculous cultivation. 

"You wish?" Ace continued the façade and coldly replied, "Hmm… since you're surrendering, then it would be unreasonable for me not to give you a chance. Alright, if you wish to mend your mistake, I'll let you follow me to the next heaven. You should be a good helper in a foreign land." 

Pen's eyes went wide when he heard those absurd words, but his heart started to beat widely, "F-follow you!? Is…is it even possible?" He didn't dare to believe that someone else could take him with him to another heaven. It was simply impossible. 

'If it's true, then this heaven's restriction won't matter, and I can grow even more!' His heart raced just thinking about it despite it being an absurd notion.

Ace smiled behind his mask, "Truth be told, I'm not from this heaven, and I fell into a space storm and somehow appeared in this blasted place. Now that I have recovered a part of my cultivation, I'm finally ready to leave this godforsaken place. 

"But I've never seen a creature like you before, which means you're special, and you're quite knowledgeable, so it would be a shame to leave a talent like you here when I can nurture you into the next grand expert of higher heaven. 

"So, how about it? Are you willing to take me as your master?" Ace appeared extremely dignified as he said those grand words. 

Pen, who hadn't seen a real crock before and was as pure as a child when it came to how the world works, trembled and felt extremely proud when Ace praised him. Furthermore, he felt it now made even more sense if Ace wasn't from this heaven since he knew better than anyone that no one should be able to leave this place. 

Now, he heard that Ace was willing to take him with him and even recognized his peerless talent; Pen felt like all the years of his hard work had finally paid off. 

But it still felt it was too good to be true, and his pride still did not allow him to become an underling of a land dweller. He was in a dilemma.

However, Ace knew as a professional liar that what he was offering was simply too good to be true, and anyone with some common sense would hesitate and suspect the legitimacy of his claims. 

So, he added the final touch, "Of course, you have to prove yourself first. Talent as you are, I need to know if you have the skills to survive in my lands. If you agree to come, then I'll give you 100 days to prove yourself. If you pass, I'll take you with me, and if you don't, then don't bother to seek me out." 

Pen's expression grew tense when he heard Ace's cold words and thought, 'I knew it! How can it be so easy!' He found Ace's previous claims even more believable now. 

Taking a deep breath, he asked, "May I inquire what you have in mind?" His tone was now somewhat respectful. 

"Simple, go southwest, and you'll find a continent called the Central Continent. Bring me the head of the most powerful person there in 300 days. Miss this time window, and I'll be gone. But if you don't want to, then scram out of my sight in three seconds." Ace coldly revealed his 'test' for Pen. 

Although he looked aloof and confident on the outside, inwardly, he was very tense since things could go wrong at any given moment. Furthermore, what he was asking Pen to do was probably only a lunatic would agree to do it. 

Because the strongest person in the central continent was none other than the Union Lord, and Ace knew better than anyone just how dangerous and scheming that person was. So, if Pen really agreed, then the entire central continent would turn upside down, and this would give Ace more time to breathe. 

But if Pen were able to eliminate the Union Lord, then he would get rid of a huge thorn in his path. He was playing fox who wanted to use the lion to get rid of the tiger or wound them both. 

Pen showed a frown as he thought, 'Kill the strongest person on this central continent? Could it be those fools changed the name of the lands again? It's been so long since I've paid the lands a visit, and this task is really too easy. Could it be he's underestimating me!' 

A fire ignited in Pen's heart as he felt he was being looked down upon, and he quickly agreed, "I accept your test!" 

Ace wanted to laugh when he heard Pen's words, but he was startled when he saw Pen was about to turn around and leave to complete his mission promptly. 

"W-wait!" Ace quickly stopped him. 

"Do you have more instructions?" Pen frowningly looked back, 'Don't tell me he changed his mind? Did he discover what I was thinking? Shit, you're thinking too loud Pen!' 

Unaware of Pen's silly thoughts, Ace plainly said, "You said you have records about ascension, right? Leave them behind and any other ancient records you have. I'll research them while you're away. Just to be sure something untoward won't happen." 

Pen was startled, but he didn't think much about it since those records were useless to him now, and he had already remembered every last word from them. Furthermore, he was now can go to his dreamland as long as he completes this simple task. 

Although he didn't know why someone like Ace wanted to research those ancient documents, he couldn't fathom what someone of Ace's level was thinking. 

"Of course." He nodded before he flipped his hand, and a golden jade scroll appeared, and he threw it towards Ace. 

Astounded, Ace caught the jade scroll and the next moment, "Please wait for me!" Pen quickly vanished like the wind. 

Ace quickly glanced at the fate map and just happened to see the glittering silver circle around Pen's fate point vanish at this moment, and Pen was really gone!

Ace's heart raced because he knew what it meant as he looked at the jade scroll in his hand, 'So this is it!'