Eternal Thief

"Oh, you didn't know about the big event?" Laden was very surprised as if this event was very important or something.

'I'm new here. How would I know anything about this big event!' Ace thought.

Javier said while smiling, "I'm a traveler and had little interaction with anyone for some time. I hope sir don't mind telling me what this big event is." 

"A traveler, eh." Laden deeply looked at Javier. 'This young man is a third gate cultivator. How did he didn't know about it?' 

Laden found nothing suspicious about Ace because he was a peak qi gates realm expert himself and blindly believe in his senses. But it was still strange that this young man didn't know about the biggest event of youngsters.

Even with his doubts, Laden speaks honestly, "This event is held by the Damien Royal Institute." There was a clear longing in Laden's voice when he speaks this name. 

Laden excitedly looked at Javier but only see Javier has not a hint of excitement after hearing the Damien Royal Institute name.

"Don't tell me you didn't even know about the Damien Royal Institute?" Disbelief shone on Laden's face. 

Javier said with a straight face, "I don't. But I know about the Damien Kingdom. It is the number one kingdom of middle lands, right?" 

How could Ace didn't know about the top ten kingdoms? They were very clear on the map and he even had separate and detailed maps of each one of them.

Laden looked at Javier as he was seeing a hermit, "If you know of Damien Kingdom, then you should also know about the biggest institute of middle lands. Every younger dreamed of entering this institute!" 

"Oh, is that big of a deal?" Javier finally shows interest.

Now Ace wanted to know more about this institute. Because there was no such a thing as an institute in the low lands. 

Laden tells Javier with a serious face as if it was a crime to not know about this institute, "Let me open your eyes, young man. Damien Royal Institute student status is equal to a Marquess/Marchioness in the middle-lands! 

"They have many powerful techniques and skills. Supposedly, a student of Damien Royal Institute can fight with someone in higher realms like it's nothing for them. They are all the cream of crops, true genius! 

"But alas, getting a seat in the institute is equal to reaching the sky, and only by going through their hard test, one has a chance. It doesn't matter who you are. Even if you're a prince of a kingdom, you have to go through the test!

"Rumor has it that test is so deadly many youngsters die in it! But every five years almost ten of million youngsters take part in it to try their luck and only ten thousand passed it!

"This exact test is in six months so every youngster in middle-lands is heading to the capital of their kingdom so they can have time to take part in the selection test of Damien Royal Institute!" Laden's voice was filled with enthusiasm in the end.

Javier's eyes were glowing with a special light as he asked, "Sir, can anyone participate in this selection test?" 

Candidly, it would be a lie if Ace said his heart was not pounding after hearing about this institute and competition. It was not because he wanted to study there; it was because he can steal from ten million youngsters!

One has to know only nobles would take part in this test and every noble is bound to be wealthy! 

'Just how much TP I can farm in this test!' Ace's heart raced as he wanted to fly over there immediately.

Laden finally get a normal reaction from this dense young man and happily answer, "Yes, anyone in the Qi Gates realm and below the age of eighteen can participate in the selection test held at the Regal City also the capital city of Regal Kingdom!" 

Javier takes a deep breath before asking seriously, "How much time it will take to go to the capital?" 

Ace has seen the map, and he knows it would almost take him seven to eight months before he reaches the Regal Capital City if he travels at full speed without resting. But he still asked if he was wrong in his calculation.

"From here?" Laden looked strangely at Javier and said with doubts, "If you go there with your cultivation, it will take you two years. But more importantly, your cultivation is quite shallow. Young friends don't court death. We commoner didn't stand a chance even in that selection test, much less the actual test of hundred kingdoms."

Laden has a good impression of Javier; this young man was polite and wasn't arrogant like some youngster who has his cultivation. That's why he warns him kindly.

"Is there no other way?" Javier still insists. 

Ace could tell this shop owner was warning him out of kindness, but he also could tell Laden knows a faster way to go in the capital. 

"Sigh… Youngster these days." Laden sighed, but he still said since this youngster wanted to go, he can't stop him. "If you have qi stones, you can go to Zander City and hire a tamed flying demonic beast. With it, you can reach the capital in a month! But it is very expensive."

"What? We can use tame the demonic beasts?" Ace was astonished because he never saw a tame demonic beast in low lands. 

"Yes, only cities like Zander have this facility because Earl Zander lived there. But it will still take you three months with your speed.

"Moreover, as you can see, everyone is going in the same direction as you. Because anyone can watch the selection test and a very large crowd gather in the capital, especially nobles!

  "In the time you reached the Zander City, all the demonic beasts might already be hired," Laden told truthfully. 

'An enormous crowd eh, this is the more reason for me to go!' Ace thought ecstatically. 

He would never miss this chance to become wealthy and famous!