Eternal Thief

The Northern Guardian Sect City stands as one of the crown jewels among the four

subordinate cities of the Artifact Inferno Guardian Sect, under the stewardship of the Norberg Clan, who was currently under the most limelight!

It sprawls across a vast expanse, surrounded by towering black iron walls inscribed with powerful runes. It serves as both a fortress and a commercial hub. The streets are alive with the bustling energy of traders, cultivators, and artisans from all corners of the Spirit Inferno Domain.

Grand buildings and pavilions crafted from polished obsidian and crimson stone line the avenues. Each is adorned with banners displaying its affiliations with various sects and businesses.

A colossal central square serves as the heart of the city. Statues of the Norberg Clan’s ancestors and the sect’s insignia tower above the square. Here, auctions and trade fairs are held, attracting merchants and cultivators alike for the exchange of rare treasures, alchemy treasures, and even some secret techniques.

With its reputation as one of the largest business hubs in the domain, Northern Guardian Sect City is a convergence point for wealth and opportunity, where every deal made could change one’s fate.

In the most prominent area of the city stands the imposing structure of the Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary!

The Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary was known far and wide across the Mortal Ascension Heaven for its exclusive and exquisite wine, Everlasting Ambrosia, crafted from unknown spirit fruits and herbs only known by the Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary.

Only the most distinguished and wealthy could afford entry, as the establishment’s high standards ensured that only those with status or wealth gained access to its luxurious chambers.

The Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary was structured like a grand pagoda, with each floor offering a higher grade of the Everlasting Ambrosia and higher levels of service. The VIP area, located on the topmost floor, was reserved for the most elite guests-those who could afford wines that cost a fortune with each sip.

Even an Ascension Warrior, a cultivator of immense strength, was typically not powerful or influential enough to be allowed to enjoy the privileges of this area unless they had affiliations with high-grade sects or possessed a high cultivation base.

At this moment, inside the famed ‘Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary,’ a young man in lavish, deep crimson robes embroidered with golden thread sat comfortably by a window, his eyes lazily observing the cityscape.

As the young man swirled, his glass of the Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary’s famed ‘Everlasting Ambrosia of First Grade,’ a rich, crystal white wine emitted faint wisps of dense invisible Qi with an unforgettable intoxicating scent.

There were higher grades of Everlasting Ambrosia, from first to the legendary ninth grade, which was only served in their headquarters. Even the Inferno Spirit Domain wasn’t qualified to have it!

Just this small glass of First Grade Everlasting Ambrosia in this young man’s hand cost 10,000 Tier-1 Spirit Coins, while a first-grade Everlasting Ambrosia wine bottle cost 1,000,000 Tier- 1 Spirit Coins, and one cultivator was only limited to buying one per month, no matter how they were!

Moreover, only a law state cultivator could drink it, and any elemental state cultivator would blast apart with a tiny sip. Not only that, but a cultivator could only buy the Everlasting Ambrosia of the same cultivation realm, not higher, and the spirit coins’ tier will also increase with the wine’s grade.

These were the rules of the Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary, and no one dared to go against them if they didn’t want to be blacklisted for life and also because the Ambrosia Wine Sanctuary background was mystical and posed great deterrence to even a Second Grade Sect!

The young man was relishing his wine; as one could guess, it was his first time tasting it. He also overheard the whispers and conversations from around the room.

However, at this moment, the commotion at the entrance soon caught his attention. He leaned back slightly, a spark of interest lighting up in his eyes.

A group of people entered the pavilion, their presence causing a ripple of exclamations from the guests.

They wore unique robes marked with a peculiar insignia. Their robes were a unique blend of black and white fabric, patterned with interlocking circles representing the duality of Yin and Yang.

Each circle had glowing runic symbols etched within, signifying their affinity with formations and rune-crafting techniques.

“Yin Yang Formation Guardian Sect!” A middle-aged cultivator sitting not far away from the young man suddenly exclaimed with a grave tone.

The young man’s eyes flashed with a hint of astonishment because he knew about the Yin- Yang Formation Guardian Sect-a prominent rival to the Artifact Inferno Guardian Sect!

Furthermore, the moment those Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect people entered, the tension in the room was palpable as everyone eyed the newcomers, a rare sight in Northern Guardian Sect City, given the long-standing rivalry between the two sects.

The young man took another sip of his wine, his expression calm but his eyes gleaming with intrigue. He listened carefully to the murmurs around him, piecing together the significance of the Yin Yang Formation Guardian Sect’s appearance in a territory so deeply controlled by the Artifact Inferno Guardian Sect.

“Interesting…” He muttered, his fingers drumming softly on the table. “What could have brought them here?”

The people of the Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect’s eyes flashed with disdain and arrogance as they didn’t even glance at anyone. They directly headed towards the upper floor, where one of the sanctuary staff respectfully led them to higher floors where the high-grade Everlasting Ambrosia was sold.

After all, as a second-grade sect like the AIG Sect, the Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect people can directly access the third floor, and if they have an Ascension Master with them, they can go to the fourth floor. Mind you, there were only six floors in the Ambrosia Wine

Sanctuary!

One of the people of the Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect, the people started to discuss heatedly.

“What do you think those arrogant guys from the Everchanging Domain are here for? Are they going to pick a fight with the AIG Sect?” A man asked his friend.

“Tsk, tsk, don’t you know that the Decade Meeting between the two sects in five months? Although they called it a friendly meeting where both sects took turns going into each other’s domains with their most talented disciples to exchange pointers, everyone knew that it was fierce competition between the two sects! And the last time I heard, the last meeting when the AIG Sect went in the Everchanging Domain, they lost from the Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect!” The other man replied with a somewhat angry tone.

“What!? It’s that fierce? But aren’t the AIG Sect and Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect following the path of Spirit Forging and Spirit Rune Crafting? What do they compete in?” The

other guy asked again curiously.

“Although it’s true that both sects followed different paths, the thing is, both sects also have formations and forging inheritance, and there are even core disciples among both sects who followed the formation and forging paths. There are even special halls and elders.

“So, both sects always compete with each other using those two halls, especially the disciples with dual runic talents. Unfortunately, dual runic talents are scarce, and the Yin-Yang Formation Guardian Sect has one, while the AIG Sect has yet to find any. You can only imagine how humiliating it is for the AIG Sect to get beaten in the competition of the forging that they

took pride in…”

The young man, who had been attentively hearing their conversation, was astounded and finally understood what was going on.

He couldn’t help but think, ‘Decade meeting between the two second-grade sects? Didn’t this mean

I’d be forced to take part by the sect master? From everyone’s conceded opinion, it seemed like a pretty

big deal.

‘But what if the bank got robbed before the meeting?’

The young man, or Ace in disguise, couldn’t help but think, with a grim yet curious look in his

eyes!