Chapter 193 - 192: The Thief’s Identity

Chapter 193: Chapter 192: The Thief’s Identity

The palace’s experts investigated for a long time. They found traces, but couldn’t track the enemy.

Faced with this situation, Yun Liyue was helpless.

But considering all the recent incidents in the palace—several princes and princesses had been murdered, yet the palace had found nothing—this outcome wasn’t particularly surprising.

Fortunately, she had already committed the original manual for the Sword Control Skill to memory. She even remembered the notes within it perfectly, leaving no room for doubt.

After decades of study, she had even committed the very strokes and pressure of the handwriting in the notes to memory.

Even if the manual was truly lost, it wouldn’t significantly affect her cultivation.

Besides, after so many years of practice, her Sword Control Skill had already reached the Great Success stage and was nearing Perfection. She no longer needed the original manual to complete her training.

What Yun Liyue didn’t know was that Xia Wuyang, having received the news, was already making his move.

As evening approached, Xia Wuyang put on a disguise and a cloak. He activated his Escape Concealment Technique, his figure turning to smoke and mist as he silently merged into the shadows.

At his speed, he quickly reached Lizheng Hall and immediately activated his Mental Force Field. The vast hall was now entirely within his grasp, and he let no detail escape his notice.

His Extraordinary Spiritual Power spread out like liquid mercury, flowing into every corner. Traces invisible to others were revealed under the combined effect of his Mental Force Field and Extraordinary Spiritual Power.

Near the secret compartment, for instance, he detected an incredibly faint aura—the scent of Wude Palace.

The aura was so faint that even a Celestial Human at Super Grade Perfection would struggle to notice it. An ordinary True Monarch would find it nearly impossible to detect.

It was only by combining his Extraordinary Spiritual Power with his Mental Force Field that Xia Wuyang was able to perceive this otherwise undetectable scent.

Continuing his search, he soon found faint footprints and other traces that would be impossible for a normal Body Refining Martial Artist to spot.

Following these traces, which no ordinary martial artist could have detected, Xia Wuyang followed the trail. Just as he expected, it led him to a familiar place.

Wude Palace!

The residence of the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen. If he wasn’t mistaken, the thief was none other than the Third Prince himself.

By the time he arrived, night had fallen. He spread out his Mental Force Field and quickly located the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen.

He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manual. In the candlelight, the three words *Sword Control Skill* gleamed. So it really was with Xia Wuchen.

A wide smile spread across the Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s face as he smugly caressed the original manual. "Once I learn the Sword Control Skill, my power is bound to soar. Then, I’ll have no rivals among the other princes and princesses."

Hidden nearby, Xia Wuyang had already activated his Soul Enchantment Technique, probing the surface thoughts in Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s mind.

’The Thief Demon is truly worthy of his title as the number one Divine Thief of Fallen Dragon Land two hundred years ago. He stole the Sword Control Skill with ease, something Xuan Nu Palace failed to do even after sending so many people to seize it by hook or by crook.’

’According to the Thief Demon, that hidden expert backing Yun Liyue has indeed reached the Super Grade Level. But his concealment skills are also extremely powerful, and he was in disguise, so his true identity couldn’t be seen. A real shame.’

’That bitch Yun Liyue actually lied to the world, claiming there was no Sword Control Skill. To think she had the original manual all along. Well, it’s mine now. Once that old bastard Xia Wuyang is dead, we’ll see how I make her submit.’

’A Grandmaster in the First Grade Realm, and so beautiful. Best of all, she’s technically my sister-in-law. That would be an experience like no other.’

...

Xia Wuyang’s expression turned grim. ’Since this bastard insists on courting death, he can’t blame me for what comes next.’

A ripple went through his Mental Force Field. He had found the Thief Demon, who was cultivating intensely in a secret chamber near Xia Wuchen.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xia Wuyang withdrew the Spiritual Shackles from Cao Zhenghe’s Sea of Consciousness. Cao Zhenghe was still bewildered by the Soul Enchantment Technique, so even without the shackles, he remained under Xia Wuyang’s control.

’The Soul Enchantment Technique is much weaker than the Spiritual Shackles,’ Xia Wuyang noted. ’Its effects are constantly diminishing and will need to be reinforced from time to time.’

’Besides, while Cao Zhenghe controls the Inner Treasury, he’s only a First Grade Grandmaster. I could deal with him effortlessly. His power is too weak.’

’The Thief Demon isn’t anything special either, but at least he’s several times stronger than Cao Zhenghe. Plus, he’s an expert thief. He could be useful.’

DONG...

He unleashed the Spiritual Shackles. Just as they were about to shatter the Thief Demon’s defenses in his Sea of Consciousness, a Spirit Talisman unexpectedly materialized and blocked the attack.

"Who’s there?"

The Thief Demon cried out in alarm, his eyes darting around the room.

HUMMM...

Xia Wuyang frowned. He unleashed his Extraordinary Spiritual Power, combining it with the Spiritual Shackles to launch another assault.

PFFT...

The Spirit Talisman was shattered, and the Spiritual Shackles descended into the Thief Demon’s Sea of Consciousness, enslaving him.

The Thief Demon’s face fell, but he was powerless. Xia Wuyang appeared, his head covered by his cloak. "Kill yourself," he commanded.

From the Thief Demon’s surface thoughts, Xia Wuyang knew that the man valued his own life above all else. He was only following Third Prince Xia Wuchen to repay a life-saving debt from over a century ago.

’That bastard Third Prince Xia Wuchen has some skills after all,’ Xia Wuyang mused. ’To be able to recruit an old-guard Celestial Human who’d been famous 200 years ago and missing for the last 100... He’s certainly worthy of his reputation as a top contender for the throne.’

’I thought the strongest expert in Wude Palace was merely a First Grade Grandmaster. I didn’t expect them to mobilize a Super Grade Celestial Human so quickly.’

"This old servant greets you, Master. From now on, whatever you command, I will go through hell and high water to accomplish it, even if it means my death."

After a period of "re-education," the Thief Demon had a profound understanding of the power of the Spiritual Shackles. He obediently knelt before Xia Wuyang and pledged his loyalty.

’This was much simpler than dealing with Tantai Zhan, the Grand General of the Imperial Guard, or Jiang Mingyuan, the Minister of War,’ Xia Wuyang thought. ’As expected, cowards who fear death are easier to control. Threaten their lives, and they fold easily.’

From this day forward, Xia Wuyang had three Celestial Human servants under his command: Tantai Zhan, the Grand General of the Imperial Guard, who controlled the Imperial Guard; and Jiang Mingyuan, the Minister of War, who controlled the Ministry of War.

The Thief Demon, while lacking an official power base, was exceptionally skilled at thievery and espionage. He could handle many tasks for Xia Wuyang, making his future plans much more convenient to execute.

A force like this could rival that of Emperor Xia himself.

Therefore, he would no longer need to be as cautious as before. Even if he couldn’t truly defeat Emperor Xia, escaping would not be difficult given his current power.

Even if a True Monarch were to make a move, it was uncertain whether they could capture him.