Ace was stunned when he saw the law section of his status. Three new laws have appeared, and the final one was something completely unexpected, the Heavenly Thunder!

Ace didn’t even know if this was even possible to comprehend the Heavenly Thunder since it belonged exclusively to Heaven and was part of the Heavenly Punishment.

‘So that’s why I was emitting the faint aura of Heavenly Punishment. Could it be the sword cores have enabled me to comprehend the Heavenly Thunder, and in the future, my understanding of it continues to increase as I absorb more?’ Ace couldn’t help but feel extremely excited as well as mystified.

Now he finally started to understand why Heaven loathed a Heaven’s Stealer and why it needed to be killed. Although his understanding of the Heavenly Thunder Law was pitifully low, it was still there, which meant one day he might control the same heavenly thunder on his behest, which was exclusive to Heaven.

Furthermore, with his new breakthrough, he was feeling extremely powerful, so powerful that he might be able to fight with a peak Soul Manifestation Realm Cultivator and even win! As for the Law Awareness Realm, he would be able to run away at least.

Grinning ear to ear, he quickly claimed the two rewards he gained after the breakthrough. The last time he gained the Apparition Wind Walk, and this time he gained two secret skills.

He first claimed the Dark Soul and Body Union Secret Martial Skill, and when he saw the details, he was surprised. This secret skill required the Dark Soul to master, and its effect was quite straightforward.

Ace can fully amalgamate with the Dark Soul, and at the Perfection level proficiency, he will receive 20% boosts in all his physical aspects and martial Qi, not to mention it also has a 5% boost effect on dark element-related skills!

AN: Proficiency Levels of System (Low, Middle, High, Perfection)

This secret skill was just like his title but more useful and potent, not to mention it will grow with his dark soul.

As for the sect’s secret skill, Wind of Darkness, it required at least level-6 mastery of the Apparition Wind Step or Wind Law at 50% just to start practicing this skill. This was a very particular skill that would give him a massive boost in speed, soul attacks, and lastly, its true function was quite ghastly! ｂｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕．𝚘𝚛𝚐

But Ace was quite far away from even thinking about practicing this secret skill, and he was planning on focusing on the Apparition Wind Walk since this soul art had saved his life and it could be a powerful trump card in his arsenal.

Lastly, Ace gained the knowledge of his fifth innate soul ability, the Thieving Switch!

When Ace comprehended just what sort of ability the Thieving Switch was, he was in utter disbelief because the Thieving Switch function was quite straightforward.

It can enable him to switch position with any thief mark victim within his thief sense range. Meaning as long as there is a thief mark holder within the vicinity of his thief sense range, he can use the thieving switch to change position with that person instantly!

‘After I formed the golden wind soul core, my Thief’s Mark capacity has been increased from 50 to 100, and only the eighth realm expert or runes will be able to detect its presence. This means…’ Ace’s eyes glowed like the sun as his heart raced just thinking about countless possibilities of this ability.

If before, he only used the Thief’s Mark to keep track of someone and didn’t think of this ability as practical as his other soul abilities, but now, with the Thieving Switch, everything changes!

It was like teleportation, but far, far more useful and graver if it was used with proper planning, especially in thievery. In the hands of someone like Ace, it was an ability that could make him virtually unstoppable!

After gaining those two skills and his new terrifying ability knowledge, Ace was over the moon and finally done with his breakthrough and stood up as dark robes appeared on his body.

Looking at the charred crater, he sneered before a flying sword appeared under his feet, and he took flight, leaving behind a crimson streak.

From the sky, Ace could clearly see the damage the heavenly punishment had done to the archipelago, some small islands were even missing, and some were split into multiple pieces.

‘I wonder how much of those guys had survived and if they will be able to rely on what happened here to their bigwigs. Well, it’s not like it matters anymore since Freya will take care of it…’ Ace thought with a faint cold smile.

Ace then sensed the presence of his thief mark, which he left on First Azure Elder, Glen, and headed in that direction at high speed. He sent the humans away for two purposes, the first was to avoid getting killed by the heavenly punishment, and the second was to give the allied races the wrong impression of them. Now he had achieved both!

Ace also ordered Freya and Noa to come back for him since he wasn’t sure if he would be able to come out unharmed from the heavenly punishment like always.

But not only did he come out unharmed, but he was also far more powerful than ever, so instead of waiting for them here, he decided to go towards them and start the voyage toward the Azure Wind continent at full speed.

Ace didn’t have to fly for long as he was able to see a small group of ships heading in his way, and he could easily sense the thief mark’s presence in one of them. His lips suddenly curled up in a mischievous smile.

On the main ship of the humans, Noa and Freya were on edge as they approached the archipelago.

“Do you think he’s fine?” Noa asked with a worried tone.

“We are alive, aren’t we?” Freya calmly replied, but it was clear she was hiding her own anxiety.

At this moment, Freya looked down and coldly ordered Glen, who was commanding the ships, “Move faster!”

However, before Glen could reply, he suddenly vanished from his spot, and a dark hooded figure appeared in his place!