Eternal Thief

Ace felt a peculiar Qi wave from the black could inside his martial space and instantly guessed Alvin was using slave contact to imprint this command on Finn!

Ace knew this was the cue and said, "As Elder Brother command." 

Now that Finn's face was under that slave item's mask, beside his cold eyes one can see nothing. 

Even with the martial sense it was hard to tell Finn's exact expression and this was in Ace's favor because he doesn't have to control his physical expression anymore, and believe it or not, this was the hardest part! 

After all, copying someone's personality was never easy, and without Ace's soul probe it would be even harder.

Alvin nodded when he saw the familiar response and looked at Lan with a faint smile, "See, I didn't have any intention to turn him into a mindless slave, and I'm not using the slave contract full capacity. He can cultivate normally, and the slave contract would never hinder him." 

Lan grimaced but didn't retort, since he knew a seven-star slave contract has this kind of function. Besides, knowing about Finn's potential Alvin would never dare to treat him like a slave! 

'Sigh…' Lan sighed and faintly said, "Fine. Let's go I'll arrange a special token and appoint a Flame Captain level guard to him so little Finn can smoothly travel in the flame city." 

"I'm relying on Elder Lan for this. After all, he'll be here for some time until we returned to high-lands and I have to contact my father as soon as possible." 

Alvin knew Lan was appointed his loyal flame guard, so he could also monitor Finn, and he had no problem with it since Finn's life was now in his hand as long as he kept the slave contract secured!

"I only have three 'Millions-Miles Transmission Plates' and I can only give you one, so you better use it wisely." Lan gravely said, and a palm-size silver formation plate appeared in his hand.

Ace looked at the silver formation plate with great interest and thought, 'So, they used these special formation plates to communicate between long-distance places!' 

Ace was always inquisitive about how these organization personals can communicate with each other so swiftly, and now he finally got the answer. He wanted to use the runic eyes to see the runic symbols on it, but he knew if he does it, Lan would notice it!

"Don't worry, the moment I got a replay, I'll come to you first." Alvin took the Millions-Miles Transmission Plate and ensure Lan. 

"You better, don't forget I have two more…" Lan indifferently said with a wintry smile on his face. He was clearly warning Alvin. 

Alvin's face stiffed a little and slightly nodded. He knew this old man was only playing along with him because of benefits and his background. 

If it was someone else Lan would've never been allowed to put a slave item on Finn and probably done it himself! 

Alvin knows if he played any kind of trick Lan would retaliate with no second thought, and he can't do anything about it since he wasn't Lan's match. 

"Let's go, I need some rest since I prepare the elixir all night." Lan chuckles coldly seeing Alvin's tense face. 

Following Lan, they all leave the hidden forgery and enter the statue hall again. 

'I have to somehow complete the scanning before leaving this place.' Ace thought while moving close to the statue. 

Suddenly, Ace's eyes brighten.

Then it happened, the moment Ace entered the 250-meter radios of the statue, the system's icy voice rang in his mind.

======= 

"[Target in range!]"

[Scan resumed!]

[Time: 03:20]

=======

Finn stopped abruptly, and his confusing voice rang in the grand hall, "Umm…. Elder Brother." 

Alvin and Lan also stopped and looked at Finn with questioning eyes. 

"I think I felt something from that statue," Finn said with ambiguity.

"Oh, so you could feel the aura around the founder statue now as well." Lan was astonished because he knew what Finn was talking about. 

"Heh, don't worry, this aura is coming from those two treasures in founder's hands, and that statue is also made from very precise minerals." Alvin chuckles.

"However, only someone at the foundation building stage can feel this aura, meaning you get many benefits from element bath that we still don't know yet," Lan suggested.

"Did you feel anything else?" Alvin asked, but he used the slave contract this time. 

Ace felt that unique Qi fluctuation again and answer emotionlessly, "Yes, it seemed the realm wall is cracking, and soon I'll be entered the Qi foundation building realm."

"Oh, we can't let him build a five-gate foundation," Lan speaks with a grim tone. 

"I have a seven gates cultivation technique. It won't be any problem." Alvin was completely agreed with Lan.

Because changing a cultivation technique after entering the foundation building realm was very painful. It sometimes damaged one's meridian which can cause very slow cultivation and cause intense agony! 

That's why if someone wanted to change the cultivation technique they had to do it in the Qi gates realm. 

However, if one cultivated a martial cultivation technique before they can only change it with other martial cultivation technique and the same rule apply with the soul cultivation technique.

If a person wanted to change its entire cultivation path, then it's too costly and probably only three giants have these methods to do it!

"Can I cultivate in the soul path?" Finn spoke again with emotionless eyes.

"Why do you want that?" Lan's pursed his lips.

"I don't know, I suddenly feel like soul path is better for me," Finn answered instantly. 

Lan looked at Alvin with a sullen expression. He could tell Alvin was using the mask to question Finn, which mean Finn wasn't making anything up.

Alvin pondered for a bit and said, "Let me contact my family first before that don't breakthrough, or it would be impossible to change your cultivation path that time." 

"Yes," Finn answered as his eyes returned to normal. 

Lan also had no objection to this arrangement and let the high-lands decide for Finn since his importance is too great for the organization.

They moved again towards the exit.

When they reached two hundred meters on the other side of the statue. 

=====

"[Scan Complete.]"

=====

Ace's lips curled upward, hearing this notification.

He was just wasting time, so the system could complete the scanning, and it worked after what he did. 

Now, he doesn't have to pretend to cultivate while being constantly monitored by others. Because he can't mask a cultivation technique. 

Moreover, because of the illusion created by the hundred-face deception mask, no one can see his real Qi flow and meridian which would rise different doubts and suspicion of others. 

That's why he bought himself time after telling them he wanted to cultivate soul technique instead. 

After this brief stop, they leave the grand hall and Lan closed the silver door with a formation pate. 

To Ace's dismay, the silver door vanished completely after Lan use the formation plate and even the doorway was gone when they enter the maze. 

Now, it was even more difficult to come back here!

After exiting the area, they enter the main hall, where the same flame guard was waiting for them.

Lan smiled at her and said, "Flame Captain Grey, from now on until little Finn is here your duty is to protect him and show him the Flame City if he wants." 

  Grey's eyes were shone with surprise when she heard this and deeply looked at masked Finn because this kind of treatment was very rare, and she didn't remember Finn wearing a mask when she left them. 

"Yes, as you command!" Grey solemnly said she has to obey Lan's command whether she liked it. 

"Also have someone make a VIP Golden Token for little Finn, so he could go visit any area in the Flame City." Lan coolly said.

"Yes!" Grey was shocked this time and thought, 'Just who is he?'

"Grey will escort you back, or anywhere you want to go. I'll take my leave now, if you need anything tell Grey  to contact me." Lan smile knowingly at Alvin before leaving. 

"Take us back first," Alvin command Grey after Lan was gone. 

"Yes." Grey behave as she told and escort them back to their living quarters. 

On their way back, now, and then she glimpses at Finn whose face was not behind the mask with great interest, but she said nothing since Alvin was with them and her pride as a flame guard won't allow her to speak with anyone. 

After they reached Finn's courtyard in the VIP area,

Alvin coolly said to Grey, "Wait outside until I come out. I have something to talk about with Finn." 

"Yes." Grey nodded in understanding.

Alvin took Finn into a room before using a formation barrier to isolate the room. 

After making sure no one can hear them, Alvin command while using the slave contract…!