Eternal Thief

Ace's face darkens a little after hearing Bill's explanation.

If Bill was telling the truth doesn't that mean those powers were deceiving all the land of cities? Furthermore, it also seems that Bill was not just a random young noble because of his profound knowledge. 

Bill smiled smugly as he glanced at Ace, he was very satisfied seeing Ace's reaction.

His fingers tapped gently on the table, and he continued, "Didn't you find it strange that the top ten cities of low-level lands are under top ten kingdoms? Why not other kingdoms why only top ten powers?" 

Ace was startled and immediately thought about this and Bill was right, Ace finds it also strange now that Bill points it out for him. 

"Young master Bill your knowledge is clearly far greater than mine so please enlighten me."  A peculiar look flashed through Ace's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged.

Bill felt even more proud of himself after he heard Ace praised and think that he was finally winning Ace's friendship. He was just bragging in front of Ace with his deep knowledge that only he possessed because of his background. He didn't think someone could do anything with all this 'unnecessary' information.

However, this new 'friend' of his seems quite interested in history and 'useless secrets' of upper-level lands so he thought this is his chance to win Ace over just by bartering this worthless knowledge, and he would finally have a well-to-do friend of his age. He will not feel isolated anymore. 

Furthermore, Bill thinks that Ace's calm demeanor is very much to his liking and he didn't seem like a bad person either. Because he gave ten million to that old hag just to stay out of trouble and this is greatly similar to him.

Bill was also giving away his power and belongings to others just to stay away from troubles. So, he thinks that he finally found a person similar to himself.

"Hahaha, Asher my brother you're far too kind, and don't call me young master it sounded distant just call be Bill we're friend after all." Bill said with an amicable smile, "Let me tell you what I know, the top ten cities will chance every hundred years and next in line will promote to a rank higher and the sequence is absolute. 

"It is like this if the number one city got promoted to middle-level lands then the next in line will be promoted to number one meaning the number two city. The number three city will never be able to jump its rank and become the number one city.

"Because this is a 'thousand-year cycle law' created by Empires. Every kingdom will control a single ranked city according to its ranks. The number one city will promote to the kingdom territory that was controlling it from the shadows after hundred years trials and failure in the 'hundred years trials means destruction!

"After that kingdom turn is over they will control the new number ten city and pushed to the last position. Then they'll have to wait for thousand years for the number ten city to become number one again. For thousands of years, this sequence keeps repeating itself and this will be continued until this law is eradicated. 

"The new moon city that just got promoted was under the control of rank fifth kingdom the Golden Hammered Kingdom and now that the city got promoted, its Luminous Kingdom turn that is ranked fourth. And the golden hammered is now pushed to the last position it has to wait for thousand years to swallow a new city.

"As for why this kind of law exists even I don't know, I only know that it was a custom that is being followed for thousands of years without any obstacle at all no one ever dares to try breaking it. As far as I could tell this law makes the top ten kingdoms stronger from the bunch and never give the lower-level kingdom any chance for revolt at all. 

"The strangest thing is the locations of the top ten cities will never change, as you can see at this location was locate the former new moon city one year ago but now the luminous city is on its exact position. We can move our buildings with arrays that were built in every ranked city but we can't change these lands positions.

"Now the question is will luminous city will get promoted and the 'Prince Curse' will broke in hundred years? Even I don't know." 

Bill finished his explanation and in end, there was a hint of sorrow and little expectation in his eyes. As if he wanted this city to get promoted.

Ace was stunned and fell deep in thought after he hears about this astonishing information.

Now he has some idea of the power structure in upper-level lands. Like you can't disobey the upper-level lands even if you're number one in lower lands. Or why would the first ranked kingdom wait to strengthen their kingdom for thousand years and give the lower-ranked kingdoms any chance at all? 

Because according to Ace the low-level lands were a huge pie and in every hundred years a new powerful city will emerge with other powerful subordinary powers and a kingdom would easily reinforce their forces with them.

That's why it was clearly a law set up by a huge power that no one can defy and didn't dare to try it either. 

Ace knew power is everything in the world of the cultivation and there are no absolute rules if you don't have the power to make others follow them.

Ace didn't want to dwell on this for long since it didn't concern him and the most important thing now was how to complete his mission. This city structure of power is quite complicated and since it's the city rule by a prince of a top-ranked kingdom its defensive measures would be top class as will not like the normal cities of low-level lands.

"Young master Bill you really open my eyes and I'll make sure to never disclosed this information to anyone." Ace said with a smile on his face.

Ace finds Bill quite humorous and naïve like his past self. He could sense loneliness from his soul and a deep yearning for something. That's why he didn't want to get too close to him or he might drag this naïve guy into his affairs. 

So, he decided to vanish after this meeting. 

Bill smiled broadly after hearing Ace's words, 'He really is different from those mongrels.' 

"Hahaha, brother Asher let's not talk about it anymore and call me Bill I insist. And by the way why are you here?" Ask Bill as he smiles.

"I'm was here for some business of my family and also wanted to visit the new moon city but I didn't think that the moment I reached this city it will change into the luminous city."  Ace reply as he sighs fakely.

"Well, what can we do? It must be fate that we meet here and I can guarantee you that the luminous city is more beautiful than the new moon city. Let me tell you something interesting." Bill laughs as he starts to gossip, "This time in the hundred-year trail a princess came herself to oversee the trail herself. Do you believe it?"

Ace raised his eyebrow a little and killing intent flashed past his eyes when he heard this because he clearly knows who this princess was it ought to be Dulce.

"Oh, is that so why would she come here personally?" Ace asked smilingly and didn't show his sneer. 

"I don't know but what I know is that when she returned after her visits from new moon subordinary powers she went on a killing spree and nearly massacres the new moon city. If not for the city lord being at the Qi River realm all the city would've raised to rubbles. This news shocked and angered all the ranked cities and even middle-level lands." Bill frowned as he recites this big incident.

Everyone knows that the princess of the Golden Hammered Kingdom is known for her smartness and scheming nature. Since she came here personally everyone was paying close attention to low-level lands and think that something is fishy going on here. But when she starts the unusual massacre everyone thing that she has gone mad or something possessed her body.

Even Dulce's father the King become shocked after he hears his intelligent daughter's deed and immediately sends the grand prince his younger brother to investigate the matter.

However, when he comes here and finds out the original problem, the rumor has it he beat Dulce black and blue and drag her back to the kingdom.

After that Dulce's fate was unknown. 

Everyone thinks that this is just a bullshit rumor and no one believes it. After the big incident, the trails were complete smoothly and new moon city got promoted. 

Strangely, the grand prince instantly comes back and goes towards the east after that incident. 

That grand prince was exactly the alchemist that found the Blood Rose all those years ago.

For some reason when Ace heard this he felt extremely happy about Dulce and Golden Hammered Kingdom's misfortune.

He sneers in his heart and thinks, 'They deserve it.'