Eternal Thief

Ace grimaced after hearing the name 'Soul Contact' because he didn't know what kind of contract it is. But the name soul was not a laughing matter. 

"Umm. Senior, what is this soul contract?" He asks thoughtfully. 

"Oh, I almost forgot, your knowledge is quite shallow." Empty Dream elaborated like an elder, "Soul Contracts are like slave contracts but there are more powerful and almost unbreakable.

"But it differs greatly from slave contracts because in this contract both parties have to agree on each other conditions before successfully establish it.  But don't worry, once the conditions are fulfilled, the soul contract will end at the very moment. 

"However, if someone dares to go against the conditions written in soul contract, their soul will be destroyed, meaning instant death! 

"Soul Contracts are very handy if you can't trust someone completely. Boy, don't take it to heart, you know this patriarch predicament. It's not like I didn't trust you, I just don't want to take risks anymore and I know you are the same." Empty Dream said.

Ace brows locked together hearing the purposes of this soul contract. He couldn't help but agree with Empty Dream's statement about not trusting each other completely, because he was the same. 

If he forms this soul contract with Empty Dream, it will ensure his safety and the notion of betrayal would be out of the question. Of course, it would only remain until the contract is fulfilled. 

Ace thinks before if he should just use the soul-shattering eyes and reject Empty Dream's offer, but now that he thinks more carefully, this old ghost was just too shrewd. 

Because he clearly said that he can help him escape the formation, then didn't it mean he can kill him if he wanted to with the formation as well?

Empty Dream said nothing about controlling the formation completely and only said he can help him escape. But Ace's mind sharpened with all the experience he had gone through in low lands and he instantly guess that empty dream was hiding this trump card to threaten him if he rejects his offer. 

'This cultivation world is truly a place where only strength rules.' Ace thought bitterly and his mood sours spontaneously. 

From the start, he was playing in the hands of Empty Dream, and rejection wasn't an option anymore. Well, it was, if this damn system activated that life coin, but he knew he has to depend on himself in this situation. 

This conjecture gave Ace even more reason to not trust this old ghost completely.

If Empty Dream knows Ace has already found about this trump card and almost saw through his scheme, he would instantly put Ace at the level of his traitor disciple!

Empty Dream was talking with Ace nicely just to form goodwill between him and Ace, but by revealing the soul contract, he gives away his crafty nature. 

Nonetheless, Ace has no choice in this matter anymore as he said calmly, "Senior, there is one problem, we didn't have any soul contract." 

He assumed since it was like a slave contract; it has to be some kind of treasure or special item and if that old ghost was trapped, then he didn't have this kind of treasure here.

Empty Dream could easily tell by Ace's chaotic soul fluctuations that something was amiss, but he can't put his finger on it. But after hearing Ace's question, he completely forgets about it and thought it was only natural for Ace to be overly cautious.

"Heh, soul contracts didn't need any specific treasures or needed rune crafting like slave contracts. Soul Cultivators at the Soul River Core realm can easily make it by controlling the soul sense, that is if they had the rare method of forming the soul contract." 

Empty Dream voice rang, "From the moment I was awakened, I have stored some element soul qi, and it is enough to form the soul contract and help you escape this formation. Now we just have to decide on the conditions."

'This old fox!' Ace cursed in his heart because it seems Empty Dream was ready from the start and there was no escaping from this contract. 

But Ace was quite shocked after discovering the soul cultivator can make this fascinating soul contract out of thin air and wonder if he can do it with his heavenly sense, but alas, he didn't have the method.

"We'll do." Ace said with a straight face. It's not like he has any other choice. 

"Oh, I didn't know your name. Without it, we can't form the soul contract." Empty Dream asks Ace.

"Javier." Ace replied with a plain face. 

"Heh, your correct name." Empty Dream snickers slyly.

'Damn soul sense!' Ace's face stiffed, but he was helpless, "Ace."

"Ho, what a strange name." Empty Dream comment. 

Ace's face darken but didn't rebuke Empty Dream.

After that, Empty Dream and Ace discussed the conditions of the soul contract.

There were only three conditions,

First, Ace will help empty dream to find his other soul pieces, but he will not search for them specifically. However, if he hears any kind of news or rumor related to them, he will have to scrutinize it. 

Second, Empty Dream will not harm Ace in any way nor will Ace.

Third, Empty Dream will help Ace crossing the Sky Changing Borders if Empty Dream's other soul parts were present in there demanding nothing from Ace or playing any kind of trick. And if Ace revives Empty Dream, Empty Dream will give Ace the entire soul cultivation inheritance of the Clavus Clan. 

After they settled the conditions, one square foot long two green transparent sheets appeared from the depth of sky-changing border.

They float in front of Ace. He was astonished because every condition was written just like they have decided on these green transparent sheets. 

'So, this is a soul contract.' He thought.

Ace carefully read the soul contract and found nothing harmful to him or any loophole in it and there was Empty Dream's actual name written on it. But he still can't tell if this old ghost was telling the truth or not, since his soul senses were useless here. 

At this moment, Empty Dream's voice sounded again, "Now, we just have to imprint our soul mark on it and the contract will be established. One contract will enter your True Soul and the other will enter mine. 

"Let me tell you something interesting. If we hide our actual name, the soul contract cannot enter the other party's True Soul, and it will cancel instantly. Because the true name is imprinted on our true soul.

"I don't know how this works, but most seniors believe it has to do something with 'First Call' meaning whatever someone calls you at your birth it is your true name, but this theory isn't accurate.

"It was only the case for humans and other weak races, though, races like Devils, Demons, Ancient Hunters, Ancient Beasts... have their true name from birth." 

Ace was astonished because he never thought that even a simple name has such a secret.

"Heh, what do you think? I would fake my name just to create a loophole in the contract? Boy, I meant you no harm, and this contract is very fair. 

"How about I'll impart my insights of Rune Crafting's first nine ranks? Consider it my goodwill." Empty Dream' chuckling voice sounded.

Ace's face reddens because he thought of this name loophole thing. Now, empty dream even offers his insights on rune crafting and Ace's eyes instantly glow. 

His rune crafting was heavenly and has twelve tiers, but if he has the insights of normal rune crafter's, it will really be an enormous help for him in the path of heavenly rune crafting, and can learn it more quickly.

"Thank you, Senior, I hope you won't take any offense of this junior previous doubts." Ace quickly apologized to Empty Dream.

"Heh, I know your situation and I would do the same if I was in your shoes." Empty Dream Chuckles, "Now let us sign this contract and remember never to speak my true name or that traitor might find out about you. Soul Cultivators are very terrifying beings and have many methods to locate you with just a simple name!"

Ace swallowed hard and nodded in agreement. Now he was even warier of soul cultivators after meeting Empty Dream. 

After the little talk with Empty Dream, Ace uses his light element soul qi to imprint his soul mark on the contract and this was also a kind of experiment to see if he can use this worldly qi in the soul contract.

'It worked!' Ace was ecstatic because by doing it, he can maintain the image of him being only a soul cultivator in Empty Dream's mind and won't have to reveal his world-shattering secret. 

Empty Dream also suspected nothing and do the same.

Ace wasn't even able to see the nature of Empty Dream's qi and this made him somewhat frustrated because it means; the gap in their cultivation was just too great. 

When the soul marks finally imprinted on the soul contract, one of them flies in the depth of sky border's formation, and the other shrink as it slowly enters between Ace's eyebrows before vanishing. 

Ace saw the soul contract slowly go towards the soul core, but to his surprised, it goes towards the false light core and sinks inside it! 

At this moment system voice rang in Ace's mind and his lips curls in a radiant smile!