Empty Dream's questioning voice sounded, "Boy, what are you smiling about?" 

"I'm just happy about finally leaving this gloomy place." Ace replied with a grin. 

He was only telling the part of complete truth because he didn't want to arouse Empty Dream suspiciously. This notification of the system was his biggest trump card!

Just as he thought, Empty Dream suspect nothing and didn't press the matter any further, "Now the soul contract is established, there is no need to be wary of each other. Here are my insights on rune crafting from Rank 1 to Rank 9."

Ace saw a green small glob of mist coming in his way just like the soul contract from the depth of sky changing border. 

"Let it enter your Sea of Knowledge and don't resist." Empty Dream said as the glob slowly enter the place between Ace's eyebrows. 

Ace knew what this Knowledge Sea was. It was the part of his brain where his every memory was stored. He sulks because if Empty Dream did something with that glob he can easily see everything in his memories, included system presence! 

This notion came to Ace's mind because his soul probing was work exactly like this. It was random but it can retrieve someone's memories from their knowledge sea without even alerting them. Of course, if the person's soul was weaker than his own, then it worked or he suffer a terrible backlash. 

Empty Dream's soul was much stronger than his own, and if he wanted to see Ace's memories, then he won't even know about it!

Ace still didn't know about how many more tricks Empty Dream had and didn't want to risk it anymore, especially with his biggest secret; the system! 

The insights were very tempting for him, but not as important as his safety. He was going to reject the glob of mist when he hears the system's voice buzz in his mind.

====

"[System detects foreign memories and a wisp of foreign soul sense.]

[Did the host want to eliminate the soul sense and contained the memories?]

[Or do host want to give this soul sense access to his Knowledge Sea?]"       

====

'Heh, he wanted to see my memories by using his soul sense. This also shows his true sneaky nature.' A coldness instantly appeared in depth of Ace's eyes, "System, can you remove it without alerting this soul sense owner?" 

He didn't want to alert that old ghost because if Empty Dream found out that Ace can find and even remove his soul sense, then he would be wary of Ace and might pull something even wilder. 

They cannot hurt each other because of the soul contract, but there are other methods and Ace is still inside this damn formation. If Empty Dream trapped him here, this didn't mean he was hurting him.

That was also the reason for Empty Dream's bold play because he wasn't breaking any condition of the soul contract by seeing Ace's memories. 

"[Yes, the system can do it with 50TP. The owner of this soul sense won't suffer any backlashes or know about it.]"

"Do it then." Ace transmitted with no second thought.

Instantly many foreign memories emerge in his brain or knowledge sea and they were all about rune crafting. 

Ace didn't have time to go through them because Empty Dream's voice rang at this moment, "Why aren't you opening your knowledge sea? Did you still have any doubt?"

"Senior, I already have, and thank you for your kind gift. These insights are precious." Ace said with a smile while scoffing inside his heart.

"What?? You already absorb that enormous amount of memories?!" Empty Dream exclaims.     

He was very curious about how did this little boy obtain these kinds of skills and techniques because Empty Dream now knows about the divide Azure Wind Continent.

And Ace was someone from the lowest level land that's why Empty Dream wanted to see his experience and mostly his soul techniques and skills, especially that Rune Eye Technique. 

Because empty dream felt a strange and powerful fluctuation from that technique and it was possibly superior to his own that's why he sent his wisp of soul sense with that glob of memories to see just where Ace found that kind of skill.

However, to Empty Dream shock, his soul sense didn't even get inside Ace's knowledge sea and Ace even absorbed that enormous amount of memories so quickly and without showing any discomfort!

"Boy, are you playing with this patriarch? If you absorb all the memories, then tell me what is a Runic Cycle?" Empty Dream didn't believe and instantly asked a tough question that only an Eighth Mortal Ranked Rune Crafter would know the answer to.

"Runic Cycle is used in formations to keep the rune symbols operating with High-Level Qi Stones." Ace search those memories and instantly replied, 'Oh, qi stone have this kind of use as well!' 

Ace was also stunned because he didn't know these qi stones are so precious and he have tones of them! This made him quite happy.

"Then how did you solve runic displacement?" Empty Dream voice rang again with a hint of disbelief in it.

Ace again probe the memories and found the answer, "Oh, we can simply draw arrays around the displacement symbols." 

Empty Dream asked three more troublesome questions that only a peak mortal rune crafter would answer and Ace answer them according to his understanding. 

"Hahaha, boy you are talented and I gave the method of forming the soul contract, here. It is quite helpful to you." Empty Dream said like a benevolent elder.

Ace's eyes shimmer. He wanted this method even if he can't use it. He can always create a new one if he knows which direction to go. 

But Ace also knows this old ghost was doing to infiltrate his memories again, but since the system can easily wipe out Empty Dream's soul sense, he wasn't worried about it at all now.

Still, he was also interested in this method of splitting your soul sense to infiltrate someone's memories. It was more useful than his soul probing.

Just like before, a misty glob enters Ace's brain and with 50TP, the wisp of Empty Dream's soul sense has also been wiped out.

Just like that, Ace has obtained the precious method of making soul contracts as he grins brightly.

"Don't tell me you already have the technique of soul contract as well?" Empty Dream inquiry with a hint of gloom in his voice.

Ace beam and he repeated the whole technique without stopping. 

"Ha…ha… Boy, you are a genius..." Empty Dream dryly praised as his husky voice was filled with frustration. 

He didn't know just what was going on with his soul sense or it has declined somehow, but he didn't suffer any backlash or felt anything suspicious that make Empty Dream even more discontented. 

After all, he had given a precious soul technique and got nothing in return!

"Senior, isn't your soul qi is limited? Please don't waste it anymore or I might be trapped here." Ace said with a serious face, but inside he was laughing at this old ghost because he knew what he was probably thinking.

Empty Dream felt Ace's joyous mood and thought it was because of the insights and technique he has given him. 

"Yes, you are right, it is quite limited and now get going. After helping you out, I would be in a dormant state for some time, so don't enter here recklessly again." Empty Dream finally give up on seeing Ace's memories because his soul qi was limited.

Ace take a deep breath as he thought, 'I can finally leave this damn place.' 

At this moment something floats toward Ace from the direction where Empty Dream's soul was trapped. 

It was a small white marble and it directly drift into Ace's hand. 

Ace grabs this marble and examines it; this marble was like a transparent crystal inside were filled with milky smoke-like substance.

"This is my wisp of soul, you just have found four more and I'll be revived." Empty Dream solemnly told, "You can't store it inside any normal storage treasure, so you have to be very careful with it. If you lose it, then it will be considered harming me and the contract will take effect, so be very careful especially not to show it to anyone."

Ace coolly said, "Don't worry, senior I'll take care of it and found your other soul wisps."

Empty Dream warns again, "Take it more seriously and be wary of that traitor!" 

"What is his name?" Ace asked curiously.

"I can't say it because he will know immediately, but they call him Dream Shatter King!" Empty Dream's voice was filled with coldness as he said that name. 

Ace has a peculiar expression because these weird names were just too much to take.

Empty Dream ignore Ace's weird reaction and said gravely, "Now, use your rune eyes technique and follow these white marks I left, and don't misstep or even I can't save you." 

Ace quickly do as Empty Dream said, there were still ten hours before his light element qi limit would reach and he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. 

He saw now there was arrow-like white marking has appeared on those glowing rune symbols. 

"Thank you, senior, I'll be going now."

After three months, Ace finally moved from his place and carefully followed the arrowed path. 

"Is his soul, is 'Unique' just like that traitor?" When Ace vanished, Empty Dream's puzzling voice rang again. But soon everything returned to normal. 

---

It was nighttime in the Land of Kingdoms. The moon's soft light was illuminating the vast clear fields as wintry winds were drifting, brushing through the tall grass.

At this moment, the outside area around the low sky-changing border, a tear appeared in thin air and suddenly a person appeared in black robes from that tear. 

That tear instantly vanished after that person came out. 

This person has a very handsome face that was glowing in soft moonlight, tall and slenderly built. His dark blue eyes were twinkling as he looked at the starry sky. 

"Free at last!" This person was Ace!

---

End of Volume One: A Free Thief!