There was another reason: Ning Beichen didn't want to openly offend the Shenzong Court.
This Shenzong Court was no simple entity. Even in the past, Ning Beichen wouldn't have dared to scheme against them. The Shenzong Court, like the Holy Palace, belonged to the older, established powers, and no one knew their true depth.
Especially now that Ning Beichen was already at odds with the Holy Palace, if he were to confront the Shenzong Court as well, even he would find it quite troublesome.
However, Ning Beichen didn't want to give up entirely. He needed to find someone who could open the treasury's door, a master thief, to have any hope.
"It seems I need to find an old friend to cooperate with."
Ning Beichen left the streets of Rome and soon appeared in a mountain villa in a coastal city.
A beautiful woman greeted the travel-worn Ning Beichen.
This woman was stunning, with skin as delicate as a baby's. Her slender, pale fingers, like delicate white jade, were incredibly soft, not the kind of softness that implies control, but a softness that could make one fall in love at first sight.
In the living room and throughout the house, various world-famous paintings and artworks hung, each piece priceless and a genuine original.
As far as Ning Beichen knew, many of the genuine artifacts displayed in museums worldwide were in this woman's possession.
What did this mean?
It meant that some of the precious relics exhibited to the public in those museums were fakes, while the originals hung within her home.
"Linglong, I want to steal something from the Shenzong Court's treasury, but I can't open their vault. Can you help me?"
Ning Beichen got straight to the point. After all, they were old acquaintances, no need to be secretive.
"Are you crazy? That's the Shenzong Court!"
Linglong stared at Ning Beichen, dumbfounded, and said with immense surprise.
She dared not meddle with that dreadful place, the Shenzong Court. It was too terrifying. Although she was also very interested in the Shenzong Court's treasury, her own life was more important by comparison.
"I will deal with the people of Shenzong Court. You just need to help me open the treasury's door," Ning Beichen said.
"Opening the treasury's door is no problem. There's no door in this world I can't open. But can you really handle the people of Shenzong Court? I heard they have some powerful forces guarding it," Linglong asked.
"Don't worry, I won't let you go to your death," Ning Beichen reassured her.
"Alright, since you're so confident, I'll go crazy with you, hee hee. I haven't had the chance to steal from the Shenzong Court's treasury yet."
Linglong said with a playful giggle.
"By the way, is your Dark King really disbanded?"
Linglong suddenly remembered something and asked.
"Yes, it's disbanded," Ning Beichen replied.
"What a shame."
Linglong hadn't expected Ning Beichen to be so decisive, disbanding the Dark King just like that.
"There's nothing to regret. People must move forward. Lingering on the past only leads to decay."
Ning Beichen felt no regret, even a sense of relief.
If he were still the Dark King, he would continue to bear the karma created by the Dark King. Disbanding now was undoubtedly the most appropriate time.
"You're quite nonchalant. I'm actually very curious, did you disband the Dark King for a specific purpose? To form a larger force?"
Linglong asked him, puzzled.
In fact, it wasn't just Linglong. Many of his enemies and friends didn't know Ning Beichen's intentions.
"No, I'm just tired and want to retire early. I don't want to wait until there's no way out," Ning Beichen smiled and explained, naturally not revealing his true thoughts.
"Retire? You're only in your early twenties, and you're talking about retirement to me?"
Linglong rolled her eyes at him, not believing his nonsense. This was the prime of his life, full of energy. For him to talk about retiring was a lie to the devil!
"Alright, don't be curious about my affairs. Everyone has their own thoughts. When will you be ready?"
Ning Beichen didn't want to dwell on these issues with her.
"Give me a few days. After all, opening the Shenzong Court's treasury is not simple. I need some time to figure out their movements."
Linglong knew Ning Beichen didn't want to discuss this topic and didn't press further.
"Okay, then I'll head to the Shenzong Court first. I need to make some preparations before we make our move."
After agreeing on a meeting time and place with Linglong, Ning Beichen left.
A few days later, Ning Beichen and Linglong met at a small tavern.
"I've roughly figured out the patrol patterns of the Shenzong Court's guards. They have three shifts a day, with a fixed number of personnel in each shift. Their main guarding areas are the entrance and the treasury..."
Ning Beichen shared the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days with Linglong, and then continued.
"However, this is only the visible defense of the Shenzong Court. These patrol guards are battle-hardened veterans, each an elite among elites, capable of fighting a hundred men. I suspect there are even stronger individuals guarding in the shadows, who will only appear when the treasury is being opened."
Ning Beichen's analysis caused Linglong's expression to shift like a kaleidoscope.
"If you think they're that formidable, why do you still want to rob their treasury?"
Ning Beichen: "If I don't go to hell, who will? Don't worry, as long as I'm alive, you'll be safe."
Linglong was somewhat speechless. To speak so nobly about robbery, there was probably only him in the entire world.
"Ning Beichen, my life is in your hands. Don't mess this up. I don't want to die yet. I still have so much wealth and so many art pieces to admire."
"If I weren't confident, would I go to my death? Don't worry, I have a backup plan to ensure your safety."
At this point, Ning Beichen had to reassure Linglong. In reality, he had no backup plan other than himself and his strength.
However, Linglong didn't know this. After all, he was the Dark King. Even though the Dark King had disbanded, who could be sure if it was a true disbandment or a feigned one?
Even if it was truly disbanded, after years of meticulous planning, who could say he didn't have contingencies?
"Alright, let's do it."
Linglong was also a daring woman; otherwise, she wouldn't be in this line of work. Every operation was a matter of life and death.
The two quickly left the small tavern. As night fell, they appeared near the Shenzong Court.
The defenses at the entrance of the Shenzong Court were not strict, even somewhat lax. This was because for many years, no one had dared to cause trouble at the Shenzong Court.
The last time someone had sought trouble with the Shenzong Court was over a hundred years ago. At that time, the Crusaders had almost conquered the Shenzong Court, but they had fallen short in the end.
Therefore, anyone who dared to challenge the Shenzong Court was a fool. Without Ning Beichen's instigation, Linglong wouldn't have had the courage to even consider targeting the Shenzong Court.