The Thorne of Destiny
Chapter 105: Hundred-faced Thief

Chapter 105: Hundred-faced Thief

Adrian woke up on the Second floor of the castle. He had been out for a few hours and only woke up after the pill he had consumed had taken effect.

The piercing pain in his head had given way to a dull ache that lingered in his mind. It was certainly uncomfortable, but he could still somewhat handle it.

He blinked rapidly, adjusting to the dim light of the second floor. Unlike the lower levels, this place was eerily silent, untouched by the ransacking that had stripped the other floors bare.

The air was thick with dust, swirling in lazy spirals as if disturbed for the first time in centuries.

Adrian pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his muscles protested. His sword was still clenched tightly in his hand, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. He forced himself to relax, flexing his fingers before scanning the room.

The second floor was small, smaller than the first, but it was far from empty. Instead of the familiar shelves filled with techniques and racks filled with weapons, this floor was completely different.

It was small and cozy. It resembled a place where a person would come to when they wanted to rest. There was no bed, only small pieces of furniture, neatly arranged in the corner, but somehow it had a calming feeling to it.

Only a small cultivation mat sat in the center of the room. Adrian’s eyes widened when he noticed it. On the mat sat a man, or rather, the skeleton of a man.

The skeleton that was wearing a bamboo hat sat on the mat in a lotus position with both hands placed on top of one another, palms facing upward. It seemed the cultivator died while in a meditative state.

Adrian hadn’t checked anything yet. He simply inspected the floor, noticing how everything looked untouched. Adrian hesitated. This was too deliberate. Too untouched.

If Julian and his group had ransacked the rest of the castle, why leave this? Could it be that they weren’t able to get here? But why weren’t they able to get here?

As far as he could tell, the only challenge he faced on his way to the second floor was the pulse of spirit energy. But surely that wasn’t enough to stop them from entering the room completely, right?

For the first time, Adrian was finally grasping the truth of how strong his soul truly was. He was able to withstand an attack that knocked out a Golden Core realm cultivator while only being in the Foundation Establishment realm.

He finally decided to explore the floor. He checked out various furniture on the floor. He opened a small drawer in the corner to find it filled with dust.

Whatever had been inside had long since crumbled, leaving no clue or residue behind. He went to touch the center table, only for it to crumble under his touch. It seemed the hands of time had touched it as well.

He ransacked the whole floor, trying to find anything useful. He deliberately avoided the skeleton that was in the center of the room. After thoroughly searching and finding nothing of importance, he finally turned his gaze towards it.

He cautiously approached it with slow steps, careful not to step on any traps that may or may not be there. As he stepped closer, he saw the skeleton in even more detail.

The bones were pristine, unnaturally so. No rot, no decay, just smooth, ivory-white remains. Even though it had been in that position for a long time, there wasn’t a speck of dust on it.

The robes on its body were no more, probably rotted away like the rest of the materials in the room. Yes, it was clear by the layout and the items present that this entire floor was treated like his room.

He walked slowly until he was finally before the skeleton. Now that he was before it. He could feel the slight aura emanating from it. That sliver was able to leave Adrian in shock with his mouth wide open.

Even though the person in front of him was dead, he felt as if he was constantly in danger. He did not doubt that if this person were alive, his aura alone would have been enough to kill him a thousand times over.

He looked down and finally noticed the item in his palms. It was a ring. A storage ring, to be precise. The ring shone with a black luster like a piece of jewelry.

His eyes brightened when he noticed the storage ring. It meant that the room wasn’t truly empty. Everyhting of value was simply kept in the storage ring in the skeleton’s palms.

He wanted to grab it immediately. However, he was able to stop and compose himself. He stepped back slightly and bowed to the skeleton. He was thanking the skeleton for the gift he was about to receive.

It wasn’t really necessary, but Adrian was someone who was raised to show respect to everyone, especially when they were helping him. And the items in the storage ring would no doubt help him.

However, something unexpected happened. The skeleton’s eye sockets shone with a pale golden light as the mouth suddenly opened and started speaking.

"Well, well, well, I didn’t think someone like me would meet such a noble warrior after my death. It’s so ironic, I could almost die of laughter.

Well, I’m already dead. hahaha" The skeleton spoke in a raspy voice, startling Adrian. He immediately jumped back, drawing his sword, preparing himself for battle.

"Take it easy, kid. I’m not going to hurt you." The skeleton said.

"W-Who are you!" Adrian asked in a shaky tone, as the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins.

"Who am I? Huh, it’s been so long I’ve forgotten my own name." The skeleton answered.

"Huh, that doesn’t- " Adrian wanted to respond, but he was cut off by the skeleton’s rambling cut him off.

"However, those who knew me referred to me as the Hundred-faced thief!" The skeleton declared in a proud tone. He seemed to be expecting Adrian to be shocked or surprised, but the latter just stared at him with a blank expression.

The skeleton’s jaw clacked in what might have been indignation.

"You-you’ve never heard of me?!" The golden light in its eye sockets flickered like an offended candle.

Adrian blinked. "...No?" He replied in a hesitant voice. He didn’t want to offend the being that was in front of him.

The skeleton groaned, leaning forward with exaggerated offense, though its bones never moved an inch. "Unbelievable. What are they teaching kids these days? I once stole from a thousand different sects and families. I broke into the Grand Vault of the Lone Sword Sect and lived. Lived!"

That last statement caught Adrian’s attention. The Lone Sword sect was one of the five Super Sects on the continent. It was also unofficially one of the strongest among them. If what the skeleton in front of him was saying was true, then he had to be someone spectacular.

"Um..." Adrian tilted his head, sword still held at the ready. "You’re... very impressive, senior."

"’Very impressive,’ he says." The skeleton made a mock choking sound. The pace of the conversation made him a bit. The skeleton slumped slightly, bones rattling. "Hmph. Kids these days. No respect for legends."

Adrian kept his sword raised but relaxed his stance slightly. "You’re... not going to attack me?"

"Attack you? Boy, I’m dead," the skeleton scoffed. "This is just a wisp of consciousness I left behind. A little surprise for whoever finally made it up here."

Adrian wasn’t fully convinced by his words. He had a feeling that this wisp of consciousness was probably here for more than just a casual conversation. However, he wasn’t going to call him out on it.

Adrian eyed the storage ring. "So... can I take that?"

"You passed my maze with only the strength of a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. You were even able to withstand an attack on your soul. You are indeed very talented. Even better than the other one."

"The other one?" Adrian asked, confused.

"Yes, the other one. he wasn’t even able to withstand the spiritual attack. Tsk tsk, so useless." The skeleton muttered to itself.

The skeleton had just given Adrian vital clues on what happened to Julian. But they only brought up more questions.

’Why was there only one person? Shouldn’t it have been five? Did the rest of them not make it?’ He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so.

The skeleton might have seemed friendly, but that didn’t mean he could just ask whatever he wanted. His gaze wandered back towards the ring in the palms of the skeleton.

"That ring contains my legacy. Since you have passed my trials, you are worthy of it."

Adrian blinked. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." The skeleton gave a little shrug, though again, its bones never moved. "Besides, I’m dead. What am I gonna do, haunt you?"

Adrian didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.