Eternal Thief

Ace knew he has been had and if he didn't leave this place, he might not leave again, and just as he thought a barrier abruptly appeared closing the entire thousand-meter area around the treasure mountain. 

Ace's heart turned cold, he knew the person had activated that grade-2 talisman. The most dreadful thing was he can't see any kind of flaw because this was a Grade 2 talisman. 

'How could someone have a grade-two array, and grade-two talisman like this, even in high-level lands it should be impossible, especially the talisman? I never even heard of it before and now someone is using a grade two from the start, and it's being used on me, damn it, what a stroke of bad luck!' Ace cursed as knew he was stepping into an unavoidable trapped. 

It wasn't his fault since his knowledge of high-level lands was limited and even if he knew the person he was dealing with was not from the high-level land altogether. 

This was his first enemy, who had ample experience and many powerful means to deal with sneaky cultivators like him. 

Ace had grown accustomed to seeing low-level runes all the time, and his skills were also at high levels before. But now he finally encountered someone who can create traps much more powerful than his skill levels and play him to death!     

However, if Ace knew Gordon was only using the simplest Grade-2 array and talisman because there weren't materials available to create a powerful one, heck, they didn't have the Qi stones to power those terrifying arrays here, who knows what he would feel. 

Ace didn't know how lucky he had been to grow so much in this 'safe' environment because if he was in royal lands his journey would've been hell.

Furthermore, he always felt the grade treasures were extremely rare, but he didn't know he was just a tiger living in the world of goats all this time, now he finally encountered another tiger with wings!

Ace was about to use his most powerful attack to overpower the barrier when he heard a thunderous voice calling his name, 

"My Boy, Ace, it's been a while." 

His eyes instantly constricted when he heard his real name because to his knowledge his name was only known by two of his loved ones, Eva and Alina, and beside them, all the people who know his name were already dead or missing, like his parents. Besides, his name was so rare that this person can't take him for someone else either. 

However, it was now even more important to escape this place since his person know his name which also mean he probably knows him from low-level lands. 

The black blade swords were already in his hands as he brandished them with despair lightning and heck them toward the black barrier. 

'Bang…' A deafening sound mixed with lightning rumbling and metal rang in the vacancy. 

Ace's face sank even more because the barrier wasn't even scratched by his despair -lightning. His expression was ugly because he knew just how potent his element Qi was, and it still didn't even leave a scratch on this barrier. 

'So, this is a grade-2 talisman, huh.' Ace's mood was as gloomy as it could. 

"Impressive, I never thought you would awake lightning element, it's quite rare even in azure mainland." The same voice rang again with a hint of surprise. 

Ace finally turned around as he knew the only way to leave this place was either wait for an hour, which was almost impossible, or destroyed the talisman which was clearly in the hand of this person. 

"What is going on? Why is a barrier appeared out of nowhere?" Someone suddenly questioned out loud. 

"You think we know? Ask this voice!" Someone sneered. 

"I want an explanation from three giants, I'm the duke of the golden hammered king!" A person in golden robes also spoke as he stated his status. 

These people didn't see Ace since he was still in his stealth, nor can they find Gordon, so they started to look for three giants. 

There were almost five hundred people trapped inside this dark barrier with Ace, and they all belonged to different powers of middle-level lands. They were only there to see the legendary treasure mountain, but who would've thought they were being this unlucky to choose such time to visit. 

The people outside the barrier were also just as confused as those inside because from outside one could see inside the transparent dark barrier, but they can't enter and only watch what was happening. They can't listen to anything like those who were inside, though. 

"Get rid of these flies." Gordon's annoying voice sounded again, with a hint of killing intent. 

Everyone's heart tuned cold where they heard this, they knew something was wrong. 

"What are you trying…"  Before this person could even finish his sentence, a black-clad person appeared behind him like a ghost and slit his throat!

"YOU…" 

"Wai…" 

"Please spare my ch…" 

Many voices filled with pledging and despair rang in the vacancy, but those assassins from Nightmare Ghosts were like emotionless statues as they killed everyone like they were killing chickens. 

"T-they're killing everyone!" Someone outside the barrier exclaimed with a horror-filled voice. 

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine as they saw inside the barrier which has turned into a slaughterer's house, those people even start to turn around and fled without stopping. 

They didn't know what was happening, but they knew if those assassins decided to come after them, they would not even have the chance to strike back.

The entire area became deserted as everyone fled for their lives, but those assassins' targets were the only people inside the barrier since they also can't leave the barrier either.

Ace looked at the slaughterer with a deep frown, he didn't move from his position to save those people because he knew, no one can save them. 

He coldly looked toward the peak of treasure mountain, where he could vaguely see a silhouette of a person. He knew this was the proprietor of this entire treasure mountain trap and also some familiarity with him. 

Ace finally come out of stealth and questioned, "Who are you?"