Zion explained, "I was one of them. Another was a man with the last name Summers, and of course, there was Dr. Hoffman. As for the fourth... I never figured out who he was. In the end, none of us succeeded, and maybe that had something to do with that unknown man."After Zion left, Felix sat there with a strange expression. He wondered just how captivating Sarah had been back then to attract so many men at once.Moreover, there was no doubt that the Summers man was Xena's grandfather, Curtis. The tangled web of emotions behind this old love story was likely more complicated than it seemed. Or perhaps Zion just did not want to talk about it. Either way, he had given Felix a direction to follow—if he wanted to unravel the mystery of the Ancient Sage, he had to find Sarah.…The plane took off, and Felix closed his eyes to rest. The first-class cabin was relatively empty, with only four passengers, including an interesting pair—a grandfather and granddaughter—playing handheld video
After giving her grandfather the Rapid Heart Relief Tablets, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Felix and gave him a small nod. While she likely did not trust his mysterious pill, she seemed to appreciate his willingness to help. It was clear she had a good head on her shoulders. Felix responded with a slight nod, then closed his eyes again, pretending to rest.Ten minutes later, the bespectacled doctor spoke up, his voice heavy with concern. "It's not working. It's been ten minutes, and your grandfather's condition hasn't improved. We need to get him to a hospital immediately, or it'll be too late."Anyone with medical training knew that if heart-relief pills did not ease acute heart attack symptoms within ten minutes, emergency medical care was the only option.However, the flight attendant had already announced earlier that they were still 20 minutes away from landing at Yartford Airport. In other words, there were no other options.The old man's breat
Felix did not bother responding to the psychologist's absurd accusation. If that man had any idea how valuable that pill was—something wealthy elites would fight tooth and nail for at an auction—he would know Felix had no reason to stoop to such cheap tricks.The psychologist's argument might have sounded convincing, but with her grandfather's life hanging by a thread, Eunice ultimately made her decision. She took a deep breath, then placed the pill into her grandfather's mouth.The effect was almost immediate. Within minutes, the old man's agonized expression softened until he looked like he was peacefully asleep."Doctor, what's happening? What does this mean?" Eunice asked, voice trembling.The doctor leaned in to listen to the man's heartbeat, then checked his pulse and breathing. His eyes widened in disbelief as he blurted out, "This... this is incredible. His symptoms have completely disappeared."He turned to look at Felix, shock written all over his face as he wondered wha
"Tomorrow, after lunch, you should catch a flight back. I need to head to Notura City," Felix said casually. He had asked Nerissa to come visit not just to spend time together but also to introduce her to some old friends and figure out the logistics for a belated wedding reception. Jack, in particular, was bound to make a scene about it.Sure enough, during lunch the next day, Jack slammed his hand on the table. He shouted, "What the hell, man! You got married and didn't even tell me?"Vanessa, sitting beside him, immediately pinched the soft flesh on his arm, making him wince. She scolded him, "Watch your mouth. Nerissa's sitting right here."Jack rubbed his arm and quickly apologized. "Sorry, Nerissa. I'm just pissed at this guy."Nerissa laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. These days, very few people dared to talk to Felix like that. Jack's boldness made it clear he and Felix were more like brothers than friends.She replied, "It's fine. I can't boss him around anywa
Felix locked eyes with the man across the street. After a few silent seconds, the stranger turned around and began walking away, his steps slow and deliberate. Felix then followed the man without a word—there was no need for conversation. Both men knew exactly what this encounter was about. They passed through two intersections before the man turned into a narrow alleyway. By the time Felix stepped in, the stranger was already waiting for him. "Do we know each other?" Felix asked.The man cracked his neck, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ashton Willis. I came here specifically to find you because... well, there's some information I can't seem to uncover. I need your help."Ashton Willis? The name did not ring a bell for Felix. He asked, "What makes you think I'd help you?"Ashton's grin widened. "Simple. Because you're not my equal, and you're not untouchable just because you've reached Grandmaster. There are forces in this world
Ashton extended his right hand, and a strange cube materialized in his palm. The object's surface was made up of interlocking squares that shifted and rearranged themselves like a Rubik's Cube in motion.Felix could not quite tell if it was a pseudo-magical artifact or a magical treasure. He had never seen a genuine magical treasure before—except for that old photograph of the Ancient Sage that his mother claimed was one. Yet, that picture had never emitted any sort of energy, leaving Felix unsure of what the real thing might feel like.Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice cut through the tension. "That cube is a true magical treasure. If he activates it, your life will be in danger."Felix's eyes widened. He spun around, heart racing as he exclaimed, "Madam Spring?"Sarah was not one of the people he expected to encounter tonight. Ashton sighed. "Are you here to protect him?"Felix was just as shocked when Ashton responded, apparently knowing her too. Ashton immediately retracted the
Curiosity was a natural instinct, and Felix was no exception—especially when it came to the Ancient Sage, who had lived for so many years and bore such a striking resemblance to Gerald. Sarah said, "I can tell you with absolute certainty—the Ancient Sage is not Gerald.""What?" Felix had braced himself for any revelation, but this still hit like a punch to the gut. The shock flooded through him, leaving him speechless as he stood frozen on the spot.Sarah continued, "Forget it. Maybe I was overthinking before. You've made it to Martial City and become a Grandmaster all on your own, completing that impossible task. I guess your mental resilience is stronger than I thought, so knowing this early might not be a bad thing after all."She tapped her fingers lightly against her back, her gaze distant with memories."That guy who came after you just now—Ashton—is one of the Ancient Sage's Eight Guardians. Those eight have served him for years, practically his right and left hands.""A
Just as Sarah had observed, Felix had already adjusted his mindset. Thinking about things within his grasp was fine, but obsessing over matters beyond his control would be nothing short of foolish.As night fell, Felix arrived in Notura City. With the rising number of disappearances and deaths here, he figured it would not be solved in just a day or two. This time, he would need a bit of luck.Opening a clinic would work. After all, spending all day in one place would make it impossible to stumble upon anything.Since his Ethereal Constitution had been successfully formed, he did not need to train deliberately, and the Phaeron Codex was progressing steadily on its own. So, with plenty of free time, Felix decided to find a more flexible job. Wandering the streets or aimlessly driving around would not get him far.Before long, Felix arrived at the three-story villa Xena had arranged in a quiet neighborhood. After punching in the code and stepping inside, he called out."Finally! I c
Felix thought Milo's explanation made sense. They chatted for a little while longer before Milo left Notura City.After she was gone, Felix sat at home, deep in thought. Since the Malevolent Phantoms's hunting ground was clearly hotels, maybe Eddy could actually be useful. Felix could not be everywhere at once, and without any pattern to the Malevolent Phantoms's hotel selection—even small motels had been targeted—there were simply too many places to cover.He mumbled, "It looks like it's time to implement my plan. I need a job that allows me to work in hotels."The only job that came to mind was food delivery. Delivery drivers had access to hotels, motels, and inns across the city without raising suspicion.Just as Felix was stepping out, his phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. Confused, he answered."Hello, sir," said the voice on the other end. "This is about the payment you made last night at the barbecue stand. There seems to be an issue. Could you come by for
Eddy froze, completely thrown off by the question. However, he did not dare delay, quickly responding, "Mr. Bennett, wasn't it half a million dollars?"Draco let out a cold snort. "Pathetic. You're so short-sighted. I know exactly what happened."That stranger forked over half a million to buy Suzie's freedom—someone willing to pay that much without hesitation definitely has more. And you just handed over the contract without trying to squeeze a single extra dime out of him? What a damn waste."So that was what this was about. Eddy was even more confused now—if they demanded more, he figured Felix would realize what they were doing. Plus, Suzie knew the exact amount of the debt."Tomorrow, take some guys and bring Suzie back," Draco ordered, his tone sharp. "That kid's a walking goldmine. I want to see how much more we can milk out of that rich idiot."Eddy's stomach twisted with unease. Summoning some courage, he said, "Mr. Bennett, that guy dropped half a million without blinkin
As soon as Milo left, Suzie hesitated for a moment before speaking nervously. "I'm sorry, sir. Did I make your girlfriend misunderstand? I can explain everything to her if you want."She had only caught a few glimpses of Milo but already felt completely out of place. With that kind of beauty and presence, Milo was the kind of woman who could leave others breathless—maybe only someone like her was truly worthy of a good man like Felix.Felix replied, "It's fine. Besides, she's not my girlfriend."A few minutes later, the guy with Eddy showed up, perfectly embodying the phrase "money talks". His eager, bootlicking smile was not fake—it was the real deal."Sir, is Suzie refusing to cooperate?" he asked, shooting Suzie a nasty glare. If Felix had not been there, he probably would have gone straight to roughing her up.Felix replied, "No. Suzie told me she owes you guys money. With the interest, it's up to half a million now, right? I already paid 200 thousand—I'll cover the remaining
Felix was irritated—after all, who would not be with a gun pointed at their head? Of course, for most people, the feeling would be sheer terror.Still, he did not act recklessly. In Dragonia, guns were mostly carried by law enforcement, and he did not want to risk harming an undercover officer by mistake. To his surprise, the person holding the gun was Milo. He remembered her well from the days of the Martial Arts Competition—she was a close friend of Ronan's.He blurted out, "Milo?"Milo closed the door and lowered the gun, her expression as calm as ever. She wore simple jeans and a T-shirt, and the sword she was once known for was nowhere in sight."Never thought our first meeting after your return would be under circumstances like this," he added.Once Milo confirmed that it was Felix, she let out a small sigh and stated, "Ronan—" Felix raised a hand to cut her off. "Don't worry about Ronan. I promise he'll come back safe in a year. He's with my sister now. Other than losin
The man shouted, "Take her!"Felix stood to the side, looking a bit helpless. Suzie's kind gesture made him feel somewhat guilty, so he spoke up without hesitation. "How much for her first time?"The man with green hair chuckled. "You're just a broke loser who eats street food. Dreaming about playing with a beauty like her? Get lost."Felix retorted, "How much? What if I can actually pay?"The green-haired man sneered, though curiosity flickered in his eyes. "100 thousand dollars! Now get the hell out."Felix calmly pulled out his phone. "How much to buy her freedom completely?"The man's smile instantly vanished. The next second, he grabbed Felix by the collar, shoving him back as he snarled, "You just can't take a hint, can you? You really want to get your face smashed in?"Felix's expression remained unfazed. In his eyes, problems that could be solved with money were not real problems."I'll pay 200 thousand dollars for her first time. Give me your account number, and I'll
Billy was clearly in too much of a hurry. He blurted out, "It's a coincidence! Pure coincidence! Here—I'm not gonna take advantage of you for nothing. Take this book and study it. It'll give you a solid foundation in soul-related knowledge."With that, Billy tossed a worn, coverless book onto the table and bolted like a madman, as if the Phaeron Codex might vanish if he did not get there in time.Felix still had his doubts, but his curiosity shifted toward the book. He sat down, opened it, and began reading.It did not take long for him to realize he had struck gold. The book's contents revealed the mysteries of the soul with stunning clarity, finally pulling him out of the dark."Wait... there are so many levels when it comes to the soul? Did I just jump straight to the higher ranks?"With the successful formation of his Ethereal Constitution, his soul had already surpassed most who spent years training. Even those with natural talent would struggle to reach this stage so quickly
Just as Sarah had observed, Felix had already adjusted his mindset. Thinking about things within his grasp was fine, but obsessing over matters beyond his control would be nothing short of foolish.As night fell, Felix arrived in Notura City. With the rising number of disappearances and deaths here, he figured it would not be solved in just a day or two. This time, he would need a bit of luck.Opening a clinic would work. After all, spending all day in one place would make it impossible to stumble upon anything.Since his Ethereal Constitution had been successfully formed, he did not need to train deliberately, and the Phaeron Codex was progressing steadily on its own. So, with plenty of free time, Felix decided to find a more flexible job. Wandering the streets or aimlessly driving around would not get him far.Before long, Felix arrived at the three-story villa Xena had arranged in a quiet neighborhood. After punching in the code and stepping inside, he called out."Finally! I c
Curiosity was a natural instinct, and Felix was no exception—especially when it came to the Ancient Sage, who had lived for so many years and bore such a striking resemblance to Gerald. Sarah said, "I can tell you with absolute certainty—the Ancient Sage is not Gerald.""What?" Felix had braced himself for any revelation, but this still hit like a punch to the gut. The shock flooded through him, leaving him speechless as he stood frozen on the spot.Sarah continued, "Forget it. Maybe I was overthinking before. You've made it to Martial City and become a Grandmaster all on your own, completing that impossible task. I guess your mental resilience is stronger than I thought, so knowing this early might not be a bad thing after all."She tapped her fingers lightly against her back, her gaze distant with memories."That guy who came after you just now—Ashton—is one of the Ancient Sage's Eight Guardians. Those eight have served him for years, practically his right and left hands.""A
Ashton extended his right hand, and a strange cube materialized in his palm. The object's surface was made up of interlocking squares that shifted and rearranged themselves like a Rubik's Cube in motion.Felix could not quite tell if it was a pseudo-magical artifact or a magical treasure. He had never seen a genuine magical treasure before—except for that old photograph of the Ancient Sage that his mother claimed was one. Yet, that picture had never emitted any sort of energy, leaving Felix unsure of what the real thing might feel like.Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice cut through the tension. "That cube is a true magical treasure. If he activates it, your life will be in danger."Felix's eyes widened. He spun around, heart racing as he exclaimed, "Madam Spring?"Sarah was not one of the people he expected to encounter tonight. Ashton sighed. "Are you here to protect him?"Felix was just as shocked when Ashton responded, apparently knowing her too. Ashton immediately retracted the