Ascension To Divine Throne - Chapter 130

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Assassin Specialty – Shadow Crown
Chapter 130: Assassin Specialty – Shadow Crown

The next day, at the Cain family mansion.

After visiting Jack with Ashley and ensuring he was no longer in danger, William led Ashley to a spare study room on the second floor.

During their visit to Jack, he cooperated quite well, informing Ashley that he had found her a new teacher who was much stronger than him, and encouraged her to learn from that person.

Ashley obediently nodded.

Although she didn’t understand why Uncle Jack suddenly wanted to find her a new teacher, or who her new teacher was, she trusted Jack and Mr. William wouldn’t harm her.

After seeing Joyce yesterday, Jack suddenly calmed down. William could tell him anything, even faintly hinting at the idea of ​​directly joining William’s ranks.

Joking aside, this was a legendary professional of their field. No one would want to give up such a rare opportunity.

Even Jack, who was about to reach the golden age of his strength, hoped to get guidance from a legendary powerhouse to further improve his skills!

Ashley sat quietly, letting Rosie change her into a well-fitting new dress and meticulously groom her. Now she looked as delicate as a doll, truly adorable.

William smiled as he watched the well-behaved Ashley. Who would have thought that when she grew up, she would become a graceful and hot figure?

Placing some specially prepared snacks in front of Ashley, William smiled and said:

“Have some snacks. These are specially prepared for you.”

Once Ashley was formally accepted as Joyce’s disciple, she would be like William’s sister, so naturally, William would care more about her.

“Okay, Mr. William.”

After visiting Jack, Ashley relaxed and felt less restrained.

She picked up a piece of cake and took a bite, her eyes lighting up.

So sweet, it’s delicious!

Ashley had never eaten such delicious snacks before. It was good enough for her family to eat their fill, and it was only after Jack’s support that life had improved a bit, but Jack wasn’t a meticulous person. He never prepared delicious treats for Ashley. Every day, the food was still brought over from her home.

“You don’t need to worry about anything else. Stay here with me these days. I’ve already arranged for someone to inform your Aunt Anna.”

William sipped his tea, smiling at Ashley.

He had already found out that Ashley was adopted by a widow named Anna. Anna earned a living for her and Ashley by helping out at the hotel.

Although Jack had later provided assistance, Anna still seemed busy and continued to work every day.

After some thought, William decided that when Joyce formally accepted Ashley as his disciple, he would have Anna move in as well. She could help out around the mansion.

As for Jack? After everything was settled, he would definitely return to 16th Street!

How else would he contact those players and fulfill his role?

Ashley quickly swallowed the cake in her mouth and said:

“I understand, thank you, Mr. William.”

William patted Ashley’s little head, feeling its good texture.

Ashley, when Joyce accepts you as his disciple later, you’ll be like my sister. Just call me brother or big brother.”

“I understand, Mr. William.”

Although Ashley still didn’t quite understand, she felt William’s goodwill and nodded.

William smiled without saying anything, quietly waiting for Joyce to arrive.

After a while, the study door was pushed open from the outside, and Joyce walked in.

At this moment, he wasn’t dressed in the usual formal butler’s attire, but rather a black trench coat paired with light and agile equipment of the same color. Gone was the elegant and easy-going demeanor from before, and Joyce now seemed as if he had finally awakened, radiating a sharp aura.

Joyce had still prepared quite formally for this occasion, after all, this was his first disciple!

Although Joyce found the butler’s uniform very comfortable to wear, even when he was young and not yet adopted by the Cain family, he dreamed of becoming a noble butler.

William stood up, and Ashley quickly followed suit.

Is this my teacher? Ashley looked at Joyce with some curiosity.

He looks about the same age as Uncle Jack. Is he really stronger than Uncle Jack?

In Ashley’s eyes, Jack was already the most formidable person she knew.

Joyce gestured for William not to introduce him, standing next to Ashley and looking down at her as he said:

“From now on, I’ll be your teacher, Ashley.”

“I’m called Joyce. You can call me Teacher Joyce from now on.”

“I understand, Teacher Joyce.”

“Please, take a seat.”

Joyce nodded, walking over to the main sofa and sitting down. William and Ashley followed suit after his words, but William made Ashley sit closer to Joyce.

Joyce went straight to the point and said to Ashley:

“Ashley, did you learn from that golden assassin named Jack before?”

“Yes, Uncle Jack taught me a lot.”

Ashley answered seriously, sitting there properly. She could already feel the difference in Joyce’s demeanor.

Ashley inexplicably felt a sense of closeness to Joyce.

It was like when Anna was out, and she quietly stayed in the dark shadows.

“Your talent is very good, a talent called Child of Shadow, which allows you to naturally connect with the Shadow Plane.”

“You probably like to be in the dark most of the time, which is the influence of your talent.”

“My talent is similar to yours, so I understand.”

Joyce could see Ashley’s curiosity at a glance and explained in detail.

Ashley nodded, seeming to understand.

Joyce continued:

“My transcendent profession, Shadow Dancer, is a special profession that excels at using the power of the Shadow Plane. You are very suitable for advancing to become a Shadow Dancer.”

“So, are you willing to learn from me?”

Joyce patiently explained. After all, Ashley was still young and had just started to touch the transcendent world.

If an ordinary person heard a legendary expert say this, they would be eager to seize such an opportunity.

“Ashley, Joyce is a legendary assassin, one of the strongest in the entire kingdom.”

William reminded from the side, worried that Ashley, being young, might not understand anything.

“If I learn this, can I be as strong as you, Teacher? I want to protect Aunt Anna and Uncle Jack.”

Ashley asked seriously when she heard the words “strongest in the kingdom”.

Joyce looked at the determination in the little girl’s eyes and smiled slightly.

“As long as you work hard, there’s no problem!”

As a legendary expert, he naturally believed that Ashley, who possessed the same talent, had the ability.

“I will work hard. Please teach me, Teacher.”

Ashley stared at Joyce and said, no longer wanting to see her loved ones suffer such serious injuries.

“Good, from today onwards, you will learn from me. There’s a lot for you to learn.”

Joyce smiled and glanced at William.

William understood. Joyce was about to start teaching, which meant he was asking William to leave first.

However, William wouldn’t let go of such a good opportunity. Who knows what useful assassin skills he could learn from Joyce!

“Uncle Joyce, I also want to listen in. Is that okay?”

William smiled and asked for permission to listen in.

This kid! A mage like you, what can you understand?

Joyce shook his head with a smile, but didn’t mind.

With William’s relationship with him, he could listen in if he wanted to. It would be good for him to gain some insights.

“Ashley, whether you become an assassin or a thief, during the Bronze and Silver tiers, it’s mostly about physical training and mastering skills. There are no shortcuts. You can only get better through practice.”

“And after breaking through to the Golden tier, you start to possess the ability to control the power of the Shadow Plane, also known as Shadow Power.”

“Shadow Leap, Shadow Strike, Shadow Fang, Shadow Armor, and other similar spell skills are actually applications of Shadow Power.”

“The reason why you have to wait until the Golden tier to start mastering these is mainly because before that, it’s too difficult to control Shadow Power.”

“Generally, only after becoming a Golden tier can you establish a relatively easy connection with the Shadow Plane and thereby master Shadow Power.”

Joyce raised his right hand, wrapped in a flowing dark gray solid fluid.

William carefully sensed this mass of liquid-like Shadow Power but didn’t feel any substantial presence.

The power of the Shadow Plane didn’t have a too clear manifestation. As one of the foundational forces constructing the main world, the characteristics of Shadow Power were more reflected in secrecy and omnipresence.

However, creatures living in the Shadow Plane, such as undead shadows and shadow mastiffs, tended to lean towards evil in terms of alignment.

“This is Shadow Power. However, to reach my level, you can only wait until after breaking through to become a legend, entering the source of the Shadow Plane, and leaving a mark to mobilize so much Shadow Power.”

“Ordinary Golden tier assassins can only mobilize a little Shadow Power and operate on the surface of the Shadow Plane.”

Ashley and William listened attentively, engraving the secrets Joyce shared into their minds.

This was precious knowledge that money couldn’t buy.

“Ashley, your talent is Child of Shadow, which allows you to have an inseparable connection with the Shadow Plane. It’s not difficult to master Shadow Power before reaching the Golden tier.”

“If you can master Shadow Power early, it will be greatly beneficial for your future growth.”

Joyce smiled as he dispersed the Shadow Power gathered in his right hand.

“Then, Teacher, how can I master Shadow Power?”

Ashley’s attention was completely drawn to Joyce’s storytelling, so she hurriedly asked.

“Generally, it’s about getting in touch with Shadow Power and establishing a perception of the Shadow Plane.”

Joyce nodded patiently and said, “But there’s also a shortcut, and fortunately, I know this method.”

Joyce raised his right hand, palm facing upward, and gradually condensed a deep gray spherical gem-like object in mid-air.

Although it also appeared to be Shadow Power, William knew it wasn’t so simple. Just facing this sphere, he felt a hint of loftiness, as if facing the entire world alone.

“What’s this?”

William couldn’t help but ask.

Joyce glanced at William and said, “This is the essence of the Shadow Plane, very precious. It’s higher in rank than ordinary Shadow Power and can help Ashley better sense Shadow Power.”

“What should I do, Teacher Joyce?”

“You don’t need to do anything. Just close your eyes, and I’ll infuse this drop of essence into your body.”

“Don’t get distracted, just focus on sensing, leave the rest to me.”

Joyce nodded.

It sounded easy, but this kind of operation was really exaggerated. Perhaps only legendary figures could do it.

Ashley closed her eyes, concentrating.

Seeing this, Joyce gently sent the drop of essence of the Shadow Plane to Ashley’s forehead, merging it into her body.

Ashley sat there with her eyes closed, a stream of deep gray air flowing under her skin.

Gradually, the flow of deep gray air diminished, and Ashley’s furrowed brows relaxed.

Taking a deep breath, Joyce’s right hand descended from Ashley’s forehead, laying her flat on the sofa.

“Did it work?”

After Joyce stood up, William asked.

“It should be fine. Ashley has already begun to absorb that drop of essence. She’ll wake up soon.”

William nodded, then asked curiously, “Can that drop of essence help someone master Shadow Power?”

“It has that effect, but the requirements are high. To use this method, one must naturally have a relatively high affinity with the Shadow Plane.”

Joyce smiled, seeming quite satisfied with Ashley’s talent.

“Hehe, do you think I have this talent?”

William smiled awkwardly, after watching Ashley’s process of mastering Shadow Power, he also wanted to try.

Joyce was a bit speechless. What’s the point for a mage like you to join in the fun? Although you can use some spells that rely on the Shadow Plane, very few mages make this their main practice direction.

But seeing William’s somewhat expectant look, Joyce didn’t refuse.

Well, it’s just spending a little extra effort.

Although the essence of the Shadow Plane was precious, Joyce could still collect it. It just required delving into the deeper layers of the Shadow Plane.

“You sit down.”

Joyce raised his hand again, and another drop of the same essence of the Shadow Plane appeared in his hand.

William quickly sat up straight, closed his eyes, and waited.

At this moment, Joyce’s heavy palm gently touched William’s forehead, and a pure force poured into William’s body.

This force spread throughout William’s body in an instant, and William felt like he lost control of his body, as if immersed in deep shadows.

Is it really not working?

Joyce felt the essence of the Shadow Plane roaming in William’s body, with no sign of integration.

As expected, there was no surprise. Joyce was preparing to extract the essence from William’s body.

However, at this moment, Joyce sensed a trace of the essence directly dissipating into William’s body.

Huh? What’s going on?

At this moment, William’s system panel popped up with a new message:

——

[Detected Shadow Plane Essence!]

[Activating hidden assessment! Assassin profession specialization [Shadow Crown]!]