After the announcement of the fifth protector, all the protectors were alert and no longer in a cultivation state or in their secret chambers. They were all alert for the worst.
That’s why it was now more difficult for Ace to enter the treasury room on their watch. The moment he opened any door, they will instantly know something was amiss!
Furthermore, the more time he spends in the treasure pagoda, the more he’ll put himself at risk because it had already been over half an hour since that protector left and the other demons with him.
The evil demon estate wasn’t far from here, so he had to finish his business before they came running here.
Ace slowly opened the locked door of the twentieth floor, while his eyes were affixed on a white fate point a few meters away and that demon in the main hall.
However, no matter how careful Ace was, the floor protector noticed the big door of the floor was open!
“Who?!” An aged, hoarse voice rang with a hint of astonishment, ‘How can the locked door open by itself? Is the array malfunctioning?’
But he knew his thought was ridiculous because the Life Treasure Pagoda was well maintained and the arrays and formations were checked every week because they can’t afford any mishap in this place.
“Sigh… and here I thought I could have done this thing with no hurdles.” A helpless, bitter voice sounded before the door was completely opened, and a hooded figure walk nonchalantly inside.
Ace saw the old demon with dark orange skin and bullhorns sitting cross-legged not far away from the hidden room.
However, the moment Ace walked in, the old demon’s golden eyeballs went wide with shock and trepidation.
He abruptly stood up and roared, “How did you get in here?!” He suddenly felt something and his expression went wide from aghast when he saw the dark hooded figure on his floor.
“Well, yes, this is a robbery, and I need you to step aside. I still have other…” Before Ace could ask ‘nicely’.
“Presumptuous Trespasser, don’t even think about leaving this place!’ The old demon roared as he released his entire aura and took out a formation plate.
However, to his dismay, the formation plate in his won’t activate the moment he pours Qi into it, and suddenly his eyes land on the shimmering formation plate in that hooded figure’s hand.
His expression turned ashen as his voice stammered, “Y-y… you’re that Sky Stealer?!” He instantly understood what was going on. They were all misled by this thief!
Ace chuckled with a hint of mockery, “So, you finally figured it out, but sadly, you won’t get any prize. So, now wait here patiently while I do my business. There’s no need to get hurt. This is just a harmless robbery.”
Just as his voice trailed off, the First Protector’s heart lurched, and thereafter the entire floor suddenly lit in the gray light before it engulfed the First Protector without giving him a chance to struggle!
“Y-you can’t do this! There’s still… time, back off and the Life Demon Association won’t persuade this matter! But if you go through with it, you won’t have any place on his continent anymore!” First Protector’s face was twisted with fury and anxiety.
He knew this formation was made to block and restrain any soul realm cultivator like him, and now he was just a sitting duck. But he was more worried about what was going to happen next.
Even if Ace won’t do anything to him, the association won’t let this matter slip by and might make an example out of him or even use him and other demons involved in this blunder as a scapegoat to protect their reputation!
That’s why he started to use threats that, as a matter of fact, were true.
However, Ace merely smiled coldly. He wasn’t afraid of anyone in eight provinces right now, since no one was here. As long as was out of here, no one could find him.
“Just stay put. It won’t take long, I promised.” Ace guaranteed as if he was going the guy a favor.
He walked past him while the First Protector struggle furiously to break the restriction. But he knew the best how futile his efforts were.
<strong>”NOOO… bastard comeback… comeback!”</strong> He roared amok, but Ace was already long gone toward the treasury.
A few moments later, Ace’s footsteps sounded again. He had a content smile on his face as he glanced at the notification.
<strong>=====</strong>
<strong>[20th Floor of the Target has been theft successfully!] </strong>
<strong>[Total Rewards: 10,000,000 TP] </strong>
<strong>—</strong>
<strong>[Thief Point(s): 91,842,100]</strong>
<strong>======</strong>
However, on contract with Ace’s content smile, the First Protector looked completely aghast and listless now, as if he was already dead.
Ace console, “Why are you gloomy? You just have to run. It’s so simple. Anyway, farewell. It was nice robbing you.” He sneered.
The First Protector howled as he watched Ace leave, <strong>”I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN… COUGH!”</strong> He spat blood the next moment.
The same scene played on the fifteenth floor soon after,
“Just a harmless robbery. No need to get physical.”
<strong>”NOOOO!”</strong> The second protector howled like a dead dog.
Thereupon,
<strong>=====</strong>
<strong>[15th Floor of the Target has been theft successfully!] </strong>
<strong>[Total Rewards: 9,000,000 TP] </strong>
<strong>—</strong>
<strong>[Thief Point(s): 100,842,100]</strong>
<strong>======</strong>
Thereupon, on the tenth floor,
“It’s a harmless…”
<strong>”Evildoer, I cursed you to die to horrible death! I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you…”</strong> the demoness kept cursing with bloodshot eyes as Ace completely ignored her.
Soon,
<strong>=====</strong>
<strong>[10th Floor of the Target has been theft successfully!] </strong>
<strong>[Total Rewards: 8,500,000 TP] </strong>
<strong>—</strong>
<strong>[Thief Point(s): 109,342,100]</strong>
<strong>======</strong>
The last floor master wasn’t any new either, as he could only roar hysterically while restrained like a caged beast as Ace do his thing.
It didn’t take long before,
<strong>=====</strong>
<strong>[5th Floor of the Target has been theft successfully!] </strong>
<strong>[Total Rewards: 9,500,000 TP] </strong>
<strong>—</strong>
<strong>[Thief Point(s): 118,842,100]</strong>
<strong>======</strong>
However, with this last notification rang the mission completion notification as well, which Ace was eagerly waiting for all this time.
But he didn’t have the time to check the rewards, since this wasn’t the time or place. He quickly left toward the exit while those protectors were still restrained on their respective floors.
However, the moment he left the treasure pagoda in stealth, he heard the passing demons abruptly stop and hollered as they pointed toward the treasure pagoda as if they have seen a ghost.
Feeling something wasn’t right, Ace couldn’t help but look at the building as well, and his eyes widened with tremendous surprise.
There was a huge vertical dark owl symbol on the entire treasure pagoda as it glowed in those lights and with his name, there were two mocking words, ‘I’m Here!’
“System, after this stunt, I’m afraid the entire Life Demon Association will turn every rock to search for me.”
Ace couldn’t help but complain, but the thrill in his eyes couldn’t be clearer as he looked at this imposing thief symbol and name on the life demon treasure pagoda!
But he knew now he needed to flee this place even faster since the entire blade domain will soon know about this.
Without hesitation, he ran toward the exit. There wasn’t anything here for him anymore.
—
While Ace was escaping, the news about the infamous thief symbol being printed on the life demon treasure pagoda soon reached the ears of big powers in the inner domain market.
One had to know the treasure pagoda was the tallest and most imposing building, except for the demon castle in the inner domain. So, the news traveled even faster.
However, the last place to find out about this colossal matter was going to be the Evil Blade, because they were still searching madly for the thief while the barrier was still active.
Gatlin burned down every probable location but still didn’t find any trace of Ace, which made him almost faint from anger, but he didn’t let them deactivate the barrier unless he was absolutely sure that the thief wasn’t there.
After all, his entire wealth was on the line!
Over half an hour later after Ace stole Gatlin’s storage ring.
An enormous group of demons suddenly emerged outside the barrier, and most of them were wearing different professional robes of the Life demon association.
Three old demons with grave expressions were leading this group. They were none other than two Life Masters and Fifth Protector who informed them twenty minutes ago.
Now, they were here to help and bring quite a force with them. Some of them were the customers who were present when that demon was there to ‘seek help’.
“Evil Blade Demon Clan, open this barrier and let us in!” The Ruin Life Master used his Qi to make his voice hundreds of times louder.
Gatlin, who was still busy searching, was startled when he heard the familiar voice. ‘Why are they here? How come the news gets out?!’