NOVPUB"Should I…?" he muttered. "No, I can't afford to waste time. My disciples' lives are at stake."
He took a deep breath. "System, take out the tracker. Lead me to Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei."
A compass-like interface appeared instantly, along with a detailed map of the palace interior.
Ace blinked. "What…? You even have a map for this place? What a concerningly convenient tool."
Still, he didn't waste another second. With his eyes locked on the tracker, he followed its path without hesitation.
"Just wait for me, Shan," he muttered under his breath. "It's probably the Abyss energy… that's making you sick."
Bypassing the Tower of Aptitude, Ace made his way to the second floor.
According to the map, his disciples were on the fourth. Fortunately, they were together so he won't have to search for the two,
one by one.
But just as he approached the entryway, his body slammed against an invisible barrier.
A majestic voice even boomed through the space:
"One must first pass the test of the stairway before moving to the second trial."
As if on cue, every head turned toward him.
Some snickered under their breath.
Others, already halfway up the steps, paid him no mind, fully immersed in their own challenges.
Ace sighed. "Let's give it a test then," he muttered, turning back toward the stairs—only to hear a familiar voice call out.
"Xiao Zhi?"
Ace blinked.
"Xiao Thao!?" he called out, eyes widening.
The boy was unmistakable—fat and stout, with a face like a steamed bun puffed up with indignation.
From his memories, or xiao zhi's memories,
he remembered him as an ardent admirer of Xiao Lin, now Ruby.
The two had bonded over an awkward bribery attempt from Xiao Thao.
Xiao Thao had offered treasures in exchange for tidbits about her, and the original Xiao Zhi had, with delight, exploited the opportunity, draining the boy of his resources like a leech at a banquet.
Ace instinctively responded to the name, though he was no longer Xiao Zhi.
He stared at the boy, chuckling inwardly. Maybe I can make use of him.
"Xiao Thao, I'm like everyone else here, just visiting the Abyss. Is that a crime?" Ace said casually.
Xiao Thao's mouth twisted. "Ah! Hahaha—no, no, that's not what I meant. I just heard you were banished from the Xiao family. I was surprised to see you alive, that's all."
Ace's eyes narrowed. Something about this Xiao Thao felt… different.
Maybe
not the same fool from back then. Ace thought.
Gone was the naive boy Xiao Zhi once manipulated. This one seemed to carry a bitter edge. A hunger perhaps.
People grow up. They tend to change.
"Well, in any case, I'm already Dark Gold, it would be shameful if I didn't survive," Ace replied coolly.
The words hadn't even settled in the air before Xiao Thao burst into laughter.
"Come here! Come and look at this! This fool thinks saying he's Dark Gold will scare me!"
He laughed so hard his cheeks wobbled.
Ace didn't flinch. He just stared.
Guess I was right. This is not the same Xiao Thao. But ah, thao thao, the one who scammed you is long gone. The person you're angry with is probably even dead.
But me… I'm real. And I really am Dark Gold.
Poor soul. May this be the lesson you never forget: never be so gullible again.
But Xiao Thao, oblivious to the storm brewing behind Ace's calm gaze, had already rallied the nearby Xiao family members.
"Xiao Zhi! You scammed me of all my resources back then! Now, strip off your interspatial ring—your clothes too, everything! Maybe then I'll consider letting you crawl away alive!"
A murmur stirred in the crowd.
Someone whispered, "Xiao Thao… he's the matriarch's son. Are you courting death?"
Eyes turned. They weren't staring at a hero.
They were watching a madman.
But Xiao Thao didn't care. His voice trembled with raw resentment.
"You mocked me. Toyed with me. Just because I had feelings for your sister, you strung me along. You made me buy elixirs—treasures! Said they were gifts for her! You said sincerity would win her heart. You took everything. And she—she didn't even know I existed!
Do you know what I lost because of you? Three years of stagnation. Three years! I trusted you!"
Ace calmly cleaned his ear with his pinky.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Xiao Thao's face turned crimson.
Another Xiao stepped forward, trying a different approach.
"Xiao Zhi… we'll let bygones be bygones. Leave your spatial ring, and we'll spare your dignity. That's fair, isn't it?"
Ace smiled faintly.
"Xiao Zhi, Xiao Zhi… My name is Ace."
He met their eyes without flinching.
"Xiao Zhi died the day he was banished. I'm not here for your circus. If you want something from me—come take it yourself."
The crowd gasped.
Someone whispered, "What's a circus?"
"I don't know," another replied, "You're the bookworm, you tell me."
"Hey!"
The same Xiao who tried reasoning now growled, "Your mother won't protect you forever, you know."
Ace's eyes narrowed.
"Mother? Who?"
The instant those words left his mouth, Xiao Thao exploded into motion.
"You dare disrespect the matriarch!? Die!"
It was a convenient excuse. A patriotic act, perhaps.
But those in the Xiao family, and Ace, knew the truth.
Xiao Thao didn't care about the matriarch.
He just needed a justification to attack.
The axe came crashing down—Ace sidestepped effortlessly.
Again, Xiao Thao swung, angling the blade just before it struck the ground—but Ace flipped backward with a smooth somersault.
The boy roared.
"What are you all waiting for?! Xiao Zen, Xiao Chen, Xiao Qi—he's a blasphemous son of a bitch!"
A pause.
Even the crowd knew what was coming next. 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Uh… you do realize the 'bitch' you're referring to is the matriarch, right?
But no one said it aloud.
They simply rushed forward.
Now it was four against one.
Ace exhaled, shaking his head.
This is going to be annoying.
