This temptation was very great to reject for Ace because he didn't want to come in contact with that old ghost Empty Dream anymore, and this passage was just the thing he needed.

But first, Ace quickly glance at the pickpocket notification that he got after he stole Jason's storage ring but didn't have the time to see it. 

He wanted to confirm if there was something important inside before saying anything since that idiot was kind enough to show there was something important inside it!

======

[Notification Panel]

[{Unseen Notification}]

[Pick Pocket success] 

{Host steal}

{1: Low-Grade Storage Space Treasure} (2nd Mortal Level-Runes)

{3: Low-Level, Middle-Grade Weapon} (5-Stars),

{Qi-Stones Trash-Grade (Low-Level): 3 Million},

{Qi-Stones Lowest-Grade (Middle-Level): 300,443},

{Rewards: 260 Thief Points}

[Thief Point(s): 1,400]

---

[Host has stolen treasures worth more than 200TP]

[One Low-Level Thievery has added to Thievery Count] 

[Low-Level Thievery: 5]

=======

Ace frowned, seeing the system didn't catch anything of that sort and items inside were just chump-change for him.

'If the system didn't count it as a treasure, then it is highly possible that the thing that clown wanted is not a treasure.' He mused.

On the other side of the alleyway, Jason began to panic after he didn't get Ace's answer. 

He begins to think Ace has left, but that feeling of being seen by someone still didn't vanish. An assassin's instinct was not to be underestimated since they had to train it in life and death situations and even deadlier training. 

And Jason's origin was nothing but ordinary! 

"Listen, just come out because we didn't have much time. You know, after what you have done, those nobles won't leave us alone!" Jason said gravely.

Ace deeply looked at Jason first and then the ring. 'Should I exchange it with that secret passage position, but I can't confirm it any time soon. I can't probe his soul since it is far stronger than mine and he can always twist his words to confuse my senses.' 

Ace was hesitant for a moment before he took the risk. He used the lightning steps and vanished from the area, leaving agitate Jason behind!

Jason finally felt the watchful eyes on him have been vanished but his face twisted with fury, not relief. 

"YOU BASTARD I'LL FIND YOU!" Jason roar out loud. He was regretting approaching that rascal since he has created this blunder himself! 

"Boy, calm down. He can't open that ring and won't leave this place because he also wanted to go to the capital!" At this moment, an old voice sounded in Jason's mind!

"Senior, how can you be so calm; the map is gone!" Jason transmitted as he pursed his lips. "Even you weren't able to sense him and now he knows about the baleful Qi as well!" 

"His cultivation must be higher than yours, and my prowess is connected with yours. That's why my abilities are limited because of it. But I have to say that child was very strange. He didn't have a trace of baleful qi." The old voice was astonished.

"You were the one who wanted me to approach him and said he was the perfect sacrifice!" Jason was furious. 

"Heh, we needed exactly this kind of sacrifice without any baleful qi, and trust me that boy is one in billions, I never heard of anyone without Baleful Qi existed! That's why I told you to make a friend out of him, but who would've thought he was a wolf in sheep's clothing and even like stealing." The old voice said, "And Don't worry, no one knows about the baleful Qi in this barren place. He won't know anything."

"Yeah, stealing is the last thing I expected from someone with his skills. I think he leave because he didn't trust me completely." Jason said with a nod. "He is very observant and cautious, especially. His ability to detect lies is extraordinary."

"Yes, he was very confident in his claim that time. That's why I tell you not to take risks, but he wasn't a soul cultivator since he was using the martial Qi. Maybe it is some kind of secret art." The old voice said.

"But the map is gone. What if he runs away from the city? With all those nobles on his tail, it is highly likely he would leave." Jason was still worried about that map.

"It is one of many possibilities, but by his cautious nature, that thing he did in the auction has a reason behind it. We might find him again tomorrow. Remember, he has no trace of baleful Qi. I can easily detect him. And if by some snowball chance he didn't show up, I can find him with the map since it is made of ----- when you reach the Qi River Core Realm!" The old voice said confidently.

"I can always rely on senior." Jason's expression finally loosened a bit.  "But first I have to complete the assassination mission or we'll be killed by the organization first without achieving anything!"     

Jason vanished from the alleyway to an unknown destination. 

---

Ace appeared outside the Jade Pavilion of Zander City and enter inside nonchalantly. 

After eating and drinking his fill, he left for the inn where he was staying.

Just as he expected, the inn was surrounded by hidden cultivators and the movement only occur when Ace was at the entrance of the inn. 

Ace's lips curled as he entered the inn as if he didn't notice a thing, and go straight to his room. 

After confirming there was no one around with his heavenly sense, he entered and close the wooden door. 

"System, do you know what this baleful Qi is?" Ace asked in a grave tone. 

Ace still didn't forget about this particular Qi since Jason has approached him because of it and this means he can find him again, even with some other disguise and he didn't want it.

He still didn't know who was the target of Jason's assassination, but he will go to the capital and that's was even more of the reason for Ace to thoroughly hide his traces!