Unfortunately, nothing at all could be found inside the Dark Fortress—no trace, no clues. After all the chaos, not a single lead was uncovered. Yet outside the fortress, several pairs of eyes had already locked onto it. Each was expertly disguised.
These people were none other than Sikong Zhaixing and his companions.
As the saying goes, "If one is a thief, one must be a master of concealment."
Each of them had their own methods.
Take Sikong Zhaixing, for example—no one knew when, but he had already transformed into an unremarkable rock near the fortress. From the outside, he looked exactly like any other boulder nearby. There wasn't a trace of aura coming from him.
This was due to a divine ability of his:
Life Aperture — Morph Form!!
It could instantly alter his appearance—even his physical body—into any object. At a glance, it resembled a Transformation Art, but what he turned into wasn't just a facade. It was indistinguishable from the real thing. Without special ocular techniques or divine senses, it was nearly impossible to detect him.
Even if Dark soldiers came right up to him, they'd be none the wiser. Unless someone randomly chose to attack his rock form, there would be no chance of exposure.
At this moment, Sikong Zhaixing watched the commotion within the fortress, his mind already turning.
"That Thief Prince really acts fast—and still hasn't changed his flashy style. Even at a time like this, he leaves a calling card. But this might work in our favor. Let him be the vanguard. The Supreme Dark Ring won't be easy to steal—especially from someone like the Dark Lord Sauron."
Sikong Zhaixing mused silently.
As for the Supreme Dark Ring, based on their deductions, it was likely Sauron's lifebound Dark treasure. A treasure like that would immediately alert its owner to any disturbance. And if it was worn on his finger, stealing it would be even more difficult.
Lifebound treasures are notoriously hard to steal—even if one succeeded, the treasure might rebel or return to its owner. Unless you had a way to sever the unique bond between them, it was near impossible.
Of course, Sikong Zhaixing, Chu Liuxiang, and the others clearly had such methods—otherwise, they wouldn't even dare show up here, much less attempt to steal the Supreme Ring.
They had come to the Dark Fortress because all the sub-rings had already been stolen.
Even more shocking: the thefts were so silent and perfect that the Dark Lord hadn't even realized it yet. But they knew this ignorance wouldn't last long—they had to steal the Supreme Ring before any suspicion arose. Only then would it be too late for Sauron to react.
After completing their own missions, the four master thieves converged here.
Chu Liuxiang had made the first move—and, true to form, had left a calling card. It was his flashy signature. But this worked well for the rest—they could now slip in under the radar, increasing their chances of success.
"The Supreme Dark Ring—I, Sikong Zhaixing, will obtain it!"
He whispered with conviction, silently steeling himself.
"Heh heh, tonight's the night. My Flying Dragon Cloud-Grabbing Hands technique is itching to be used."
Nearby, inside a withered tree, a figure lay hidden. It was none other than Li Sansi.
"Time for my Empty Hands Divine Art to shine."
From another patch of void, a gaze locked onto the fortress.
He wasn't just aiming for the Supreme Dark Ring—he planned to steal other treasures from the fortress as well. The Supreme Ring had to be handed over, but anything else was theirs to keep. This was a once-in-a-lifetime heist—not to be wasted.
And he wasn't the only one thinking that—Sikong Zhaixing and the others had the same idea.
A rare opportunity to display their signature divine arts—they wouldn't miss it for the world. Everyone was ready for a massive score.
"Hmm? Why do I feel a chill down my spine…"
Inside the fortress, Sauron suddenly shivered, a chill spreading across his back. A sense of unease crept over him—as if something had locked onto him.
A flicker of anger flashed in his eyes.
"That damned thief… Daring to covet what's forbidden to me? Insolence!"
He immediately made up his mind. This time, he would lay a trap so thorough that no thief could escape. Especially not one daring to peek at Meiji—did that thief want to make him a cuckold?
That was something he could absolutely not tolerate.
"No. I must guard Meiji tonight. I can't let that bastard get his way!"
Sauron's eyes narrowed with resolve. He would not take chances—better to be paranoid than painted with humiliation. If he really lost face like that, he might as well smash his own head into tofu and die.
Time ticked by quietly.
The four pairs of eyes remained fixed on the fortress. It had now gone into full lockdown, with Dark soldiers patrolling every corner. Each one looked sharp and alert. Even the slightest disturbance would cause a chain reaction.
Chu Liuxiang's calling card had spooked them all. Any mishap might result in their brutal deaths—the worst kind.
No one wanted to suffer that fate.
As night fell, the moonlight was veiled by clouds—a perfect night for infiltration. The fortress, shrouded in darkness and demonic mist, looked even more sinister than usual.
"Move out!"
"Time to act."
"Finally, it's my turn to shine."
The four legendary thieves, already hidden in the shadows, sprang into action almost simultaneously.
Sikong Zhaixing shed his stone form and turned into a Dark soldier—his disguise flawless. Then, with ease, he slipped through the fortress barrier and entered. Spotting a lone Dark soldier, he silently killed him and morphed into his likeness, strolling through the fortress as if he belonged.
Empty-Handed Li was even stealthier—he simply vanished into the void and slipped in silently, no transformation needed.
No one worried about the others. Their skills weren't something the fortress could defend against.
That was true—here in the Dark Fortress.
In Da Yi's Sacred King Palace, however, without permission? Not a chance. Even attempting entry would result in instant detection or death. The palace was guarded by more than a million Sunflower Guards, each with a nose for the slightest disturbance. Nothing escaped them.
Back in the fortress—
Inside the Dark Lord's bedchamber, one could clearly tell a rather vigorous battle had just taken place. The air still reeked of indulgence.
Sauron was putting on his robe and armor.
"My Lord, do you really think Chu Liuxiang will show tonight? With your reputation, he'd be too scared to come."
Meiji purred as she threw on a sheer veil. Her voluptuous body shimmered beneath, radiating intoxicating allure. Anyone who saw her would feel their throat dry, heart race, and desire surge.
"Hmph. I hope he does come. I need to vent my anger. Daring to lay eyes on you, Meiji—he's simply courting death."
Sauron sneered coldly. He wasn't joking.
"Tonight I'll sit right here and see who dares show up."
He declared, seating himself at the table like a king waiting to crush intruders.
With soldiers on patrol and a barrier guarding the fortress, he didn't believe anyone could make it in. And even if someone did, he'd be here to personally end them. No one would touch Meiji.
"Flying Dragon Cloud-Grabbing Hands!!"
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed overhead.
Out of nowhere, a phantom dragon claw descended silently from the clouds, piercing through the barrier like a ghost. It appeared in the very heart of the bedchamber—right above Sauron—and struck down.
"What is that?!"
Sauron looked up. A black magic eye appeared on his forehead. It instantly spotted the invisible claw, crossing space to appear right before him—then struck.
He hadn't even managed to block it.
"Awooo!!"
Flying Dragon Cloud-Grabbing Hands was a bizarre divine skill. Used on cloudy nights, it allowed the user to summon a claw from the clouds—silent, formless, impossible to defend against. Whatever it touched, it would steal—a treasure, armor, item, a strand of hair, a finger, a heart, or even an eye.
But—it was random.
Before the result was known, no one knew what it would take. It could even steal something trivial, like a hair. It was a divine ability governed entirely by fate.
If fate smiled on you, you might snatch a priceless treasure. If not, you got nothing.
And it could only be used once per day.
A skill that could steal—or assassinate.
Li Sansi didn't solely rely on this technique—but at this moment, it was the only one that had a chance to reach Sauron and possibly succeed. Whether he would get the Supreme Ring or not, who could say?
But suddenly, Sauron let out a miserable, furious howl.
A flash of light—and the claw appeared midair—holding two perfectly round objects in its grasp.