Eternal Thief

After hearing Pixy’s explanation, realization dawned on Ace as his eyes narrowed with a hint of shock.

’Can I really subdue a Quasi-Transcendent Grade treasure?’ Ace smiled in self-mockery, ’Heh, I can’t even handle the Central Repository, which didn’t even have a treasure spirit, much less a Quasi-Transcendent Grade treasure with a treasure spirit with its seal intact.

’Pixy is right, I won’t be able to control that kind of treasure with my current realm of power, and waste two billion thief points just to humiliate myself.’

”I guess you’re finally able to understand my point, huh? But in a sense, now you owe me a few million thief points since I’ve just saved two billion!” Pixy, as if guessing Ace’s thoughts from his expression, jeeringly said, ”Well, don’t be depressed, there’s something that even you can’t overcome, no matter what kind of tricks you have stored. Only with absolute power can you overcome anything and everything!”

Ace winced slightly as he annoyingly replied with a grim tone,”Thanks for the cheer up, and I owe you nothing, just consider us even after you use those Thief Points without my permission.

’”Alright, I’ll do it. I’ll spend 10 billion points to steal that seal and formation. But you’d better do it properly and with absolute certainty because I won’t be able to spend this kind of wealth one more time.”

”Hehe, it’s always a pleasure doing business with you.” Pixy merrily stated, ”Now then, all you need to tell me when you are ready, and I’ll be ready!”

Ace grimaced as he even started to feel like the system’s exchange policy wasn’t so bad after dealing with Pixy, but he had no choice since the system won’t help him as Pixy does, and there are always restrictions imposed by the system.

After finalizing the plan with Pixy, Ace looked towards the corpse puppet of the Corpse Governor, which was still standing there like a statue, showing no sign of movement.

Furthermore, Ace also noticed something peculiar at this moment that the corpse puppet wasn’t giving off any kind of fluctuations, almost like when Ace saw it back in the ruined hall, and his eyes narrowed with a hint of astonishment when he looked at the live fate map.

’The fate point has vanished!? It’s just like the giant skeleton!’

Ace quickly connected the dots and finally understood what had actually happened back when he fled from the exchange point, and the black fate point of the giant skeleton vanished abruptly.

’So, that’s how it is...from the start, there wasn’t anyone else guarding this core location of the Corpse Clan. There is only a single entity who had been guarding this entire region with the help of the Corpse Puppets...the Corpse Governor!

’And this guy seemed to be eccentric and broken from his early behavior. I wonder just what kind of history he had for him to hate this place so much, and what could’ve caused it all. Probably not just the Evernight Council, as they had nothing to do with this place...’

Ace’s eyes flickered with curiosity, but he had more important matters to deal with as the Corpse Puppet was placed right beside the barrier by the Corpse Governor.

Even an idiot would figure out that the Corpse Governor had probably sensed something amiss, and that’s why he had decided to place this corpse puppet right here in the core.

Moreover, now that the Corpse Governor has been alerted, it won’t take long for him to react, and Ace knew if he wanted to flee from here, it would be impossible as long as that puppet was present.

’Now that the Corpse Governor had withdrawn from the corpse puppet, I should be able to stop using the Lawless Darkness, and I might remain hidden with just the Thief Shelter.

’However, what if, like what happened in that strange maze, this area is also under the influence of some powerful formation. At that time, the Corpse Governor’s doubt will turn into a certainty, and won’t leave this place alone.’

After weighing the pros and cons of his actions, Ace helplessly decided not to take the risk, but for this exact reason, he needed to be quick, or he would run out of all the Heavenly Spirit Recovery Elixir he had bought and more. Not to mention Lawless Darkness also took a toll on his mind.

As Ace racks his brain for possible plans that could work in this situation, the consequences of all these plans lead to the outcome of Corpse Governor’s rageful scrutiny.

’If I use the Primordial Runic Platform to create the ’Distraction Talismans’ and then arrange them over the other pathways, then it should buy me enough time to perform the theft, and then use the exit plan to leave.

’However, there are too many risk factors, like the Corpse Governor might awaken every one of his hidden puppets in this place and block every possible exit point. Even with lawless darkness, I need to activate spells and abilities to bypass them, so he’ll notice.’

Ace frowned deeply as he glanced at the corpse puppet with frustration, and suddenly another thought surfaced in his mind.

’Wait...since a corpse puppet needs its master’s input to move around and perform actions, doesn’t this mean that without an owner, this is like an empty vessel with a power source but without any life or consciousness to use that power!’

Ace quickly seeks out Pixy, ”Pixy, shouldn’t a corpse vessel or refined corpse fall under the category of a treasure?”

”Oh, you’ve finally noticed.” Pixy remarked meaningfully, ”Since a Corpse could be considered a lifeless item or a material as a matter of fact, once the original soul died out, then it naturally falls into the category of wealth.

”After all, a cultivator’s corpse, especially a powerful cultivator’s corpse, is an extremely precious wealth in itself.

”In this case, those corpses have been refined into powerful treasures that can be operated to draw out more power from a weak cultivator, which makes them essentially a puppet-type treasure.”

Ace’s eyes flickered with astonishment before they lit up with elation, ”Doesn’t this mean...?”

Pixy giggled slyly, ”Hehe~, indeed, as long as there is no soul controlling that treasure, it’s for the taking to whoever has the power!”