Chapter 107: The Veil of a Hundred Shadows
Adrian blinked and shifted his gaze to the old bamboo hat resting atop the skeleton’s skull. From first glance, it resembled any other bamboo hat. But now that he focused on it, it was unlike any other he’d seen.
The texture was smooth and glossy, yet unnaturally intact despite the years. Etched underneath its surface were minuscule runes that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light, forming patterns that spiraled and curled like creeping vines.
"That, kid," the Hundred-faced Thief said with unmistakable pride, "is the Veil of a Hundred Shadows. My most prized possessions."
Adrian’s brows furrowed. "An artifact?" Adrian guessed what it was immediately. He was very familiar with them as his family had multiple as well. Artifacts were just weapons that were unconventional in nature.
"Not just any artifact," the skeleton replied. "The Veil of a Hundred Shadows can store up to a hundred different faces and corresponding auras. Not illusions. Real, usable masks built from actual identities I ’harvested’."
Adrian stared. "You’re saying... I can become someone else?"
"Not just look like them. You can become them. Their qi, their presence, you’ll fool even their closest friends and family. If you master it, even a cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm might not be able to see through the disguise unless they probe your soul."
Adrian swallowed. The artifact was powerful. Too powerful. But it would be invaluable. He had enemies, people that he had to hide from. This hat would help him avoid them.
He reached out and gently took the hat. Only after touching it did he notice the aura emanating from it. It was a soul rank artifact. Adrian’s hand trembled when he realised it.
The ordinary-looking bamboo hat was anything but ordinary. It seemed that hiding its aura was part of its functions. With this, he could even escape the perception of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator.
"But only a Nascent Soul realm cultivator? Weren’t you facing cultivators at a much higher realm?" Adrian asked the Hundred-Faced thief.