Eternal Thief

Eleanor, hovering with the light pillar like a goddess, suddenly opened her eyes and instantly locked on Ace, who, this time, was disguised as an ordinary-looking man in his late twenties.

"My Lady, this is the boy I told you about. He's very talented in forging but seems to be met with some trouble, so he seeks asylum here. I hope my lady can give him a chance." The Guardian Spirit, who seemed to be growing corporeal by every passing moment, spoke in a respectful tone.

Eleanor didn't even look at the Guardian Spirit, who was nothing but a dead person's lingering sentience. She only looked at Ace, and at this moment, she seemed to have pulled a faint smile behind her veil: "Alright, little spirit, you can go in peace now. I'll make sure your legacy will have a place in a King Sect's library."
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Ace was shocked when he heard this and couldn't help but glance at the Guardian Spirit. He was astounded to see a huge, proud smile on its face as if it had achieved everything it ever wanted.

Now Ace wondered if this woman really claimed this legacy with her own skill or if she pulled some underhanded means.

Furthermore, Ace could tell from her tone that she didn't seem to care about this legacy at all, but this also meant there was something even more important that drew Eleanor here, which made Ace even more interested in this place now.

The Guardian Spirit didn't mind Eleanor's tone as he nodded with a grateful expression and bowed deeply, "Thank you, my lady. The Grandmaster always dreamt of leaving his mark in this world, and he tried to join the Runic King Crown Palace, but alas, he was already too old by the time he acquired the qualification, so he left this opportunity for his successor.

"But he always regretted not passing his teaching to the junior of his own race, and the King Sects of his race refused to acknowledge him, and he died in solitude complete of longing and regret.

"Now, my lady is not only willing to recognize Grandmaster Smith's craft but also very talented and have a great chance to join the Runic King Crown Palace. As Grandmaster's wisp of soul, I can say he'll be pleased…"

As Guardian Spirit or the wisp of Grandmaster Smith, said those words, he was filled with a peaceful smile as he slowly faded away.

He had used a secret method to become this secret realm's spirit, but since it wasn't a natural process nor allowed by heaven, he could only live until a legacy inheritor appeared. Now that his task was completed, he naturally must pass away. Still, he seemed to leave in peace.

But it doesn't matter to Ace at all because he finally seemed to realize something when that guy gave his final speech.

'Runic King Crown Palace? Could she be here for this place?' Ace thought.

He was quite curious about what kind of place this was, where even an Ascension Lord and a 7-Star Spirit Forger didn't have the qualifications to enter, and this King Sect's genius came here to snatch this opportunity for herself for a second-grade sect.

Eleanor didn't seem cautious about Guardian Spirit revealing this secretive information in front of Ace at all. After all, Ace was just a 1-Star Ascension Warrior, and she was a Quasi-Ascension Lord; there was simply no comparison between them.

Furthermore, she knew that after Ace heard her background, he wouldn't dare have other thoughts, but alas, if only she knew Ace's inner thoughts, she would be shocked.

"Don't you think it's laughable?" Eleanor suddenly spoke with disdain as she was still looking at Ace. From start to finish, she didn't even glance at the Guardian Spirit as if she didn't acknowledge him at all.

Ace was at a loss for words when this unexpected question came up, and he didn't know what this woman was talking about.

However, Eleanor continued, "He was an Ascension Lord who was exiled by his clan because he refused to forge for them because of his pride, and he always considered himself a genius above everyone else.

"But in the end, he didn't even break through to the next realm of cultivation, nor could he enter the realm of 8-Star Spirit Forger, and it was then that he realized that it was just his illusion. He wasn't a genius; he just had a good bloodline and above-average talent.

"In the end, he even tried to beg his race to let him back and leave his legacy there, but they refused and chased him away without acknowledging him. However, if he had told him that he had the Runic King Crown Palace's entrance token, things would've been different.

"But he didn't because he still had his pride, and he knew his race would not honor him after his death, so he silently left and put all his effort into building this Forger Abyss in our human race's territory. Don't you think it's laughable?"

Ace didn't say anything, but he was still astounded when he heard this vague story of Grandmaster Smith's life. Still, Ace didn't care much since there were even more terrible things happening every day to many poor souls, and Grandmaster Smith could be said to still live his life to the fullest. As for his regrets, who didn't have them?

"My Lady, why did you agree to help me?"

Ace decided to change this meaningless topic since he didn't want to debate with this wealthy princess about life and hardships after all. The way she sees things is completely different, and she is clearly not lamenting Grandmaster Smith's tragic ending; she thinks it is funny and laughable.

But still, Ace was now sure that the King Sects had terrifying means of gathering information and even knew about the secrets of the secret realms that those second-grade sects cherish so much.

In the end, they leave them be because they were all deemed worthless in these third-grade sects' eyes or if they had any value like the Forger Abyss, all they needed to do was sent their own disciples and no can stop them from snatching these astonishing treasures.

"Oh, is that what he told you that I agreed to help you?" Eleanor suddenly asked, amusingly, as she looked at Ace with a hint of ridicule.

Ace's heart sank as he knew this woman was full of schemes and clearly didn't care about anything but her own interests.

Ace still wanted to see what she was up to, and he also noticed that she wasn't moving from that light pillar. He suspected that she couldn't move until she refined that inheritance completely, or she would look down on him and not be worthy of acting against him. But he still thought it was most likely the former case, and he needed to confirm it.

At this moment, Ace's fingers under his sleeve started to move, and he replied respectfully, "I have offended the Norberg Clan of the AIG Sect, so I had no choice but to hide here. But if it's too bothersome for my lady, then forget it. I won't disturb my lady anymore, so let me leave, and you won't hear from me again."

Eleanor's eyes curled slightly as she said with a hint of intrigue, "Oh, but that's not what he told me. According to that ghost, you have offended someone extremely powerful but fooled them with a strange cloning ability. Furthermore, this isn't your actual appearance, and you are wearing a disguise, but it's weird because I can't even tell you're wearing a disguise.

"So, there are two possibilities: either that ghost was exaggerating about you so I could take you in, or even that ghost underestimated you, and you're still hiding many things.

"Furthermore, I have my own doubts about you. I couldn't help but remember that boy. What was his name again…?" Eleanor's voice was filled with playfulness with a hint of coldness. "Oh, George, and he was a disciple of the Sect Master. Apparently, the bank took him away under the suspicion of colliding with the Sky Stealer, right? So, are you Sky Stealer or George?"

Ace's heart grew colder the more this woman talked, and he couldn't help but curse the spirit guardian for being loose-mouthed and telling her everything. Even a fool would guess this much, not to mention this shrewd woman.

But Ace wasn't going to admit, "Oh, that? Hahaha, my lady, it was all but a show. I'm actually a friend of George, and it was he who used some strange skill or hid me and then changed my appearance to make up that story so he could fool the guardian spirit and also help me to stay here and lie low until the Norberg Clan forget about it.

"After all, how could a lowly person like me have such means? You are very powerful; if you don't believe me, you can investigate this yourself. After all, you are different from that gullible ghost, right?"

Eleanor's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, "Really?"