"Felix! I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for doubting you. It's my fault. Please save me!" Yvonne cried out. Seeing Yvonne approaching him, Felix sighed in resignation. "I've already told you—Phytarone is extremely potent. Even I can only guarantee treatment in the first few minutes, but now it's too late."Yvonne gritted her teeth. She knew that she was close to losing her rationality, so she made up her mind."If doing it with a man is the only way to save my life, I hope that man is you!"Right then, Yvonne's face turned bright red, and she clung to Felix as if she were an octopus. Her lips wandered clumsily on his face and her hands clutched his.Even though she couldn't control her body, her mind was clear. She was fully aware of everything she was doing at the moment.The fact that Felix could still think straight in this situation was already quite remarkable.In the end, he gave a bitter smile before carrying her.Yvonne was quite beautiful. Whether it was her appearance, f
Yvonne's mind went completely blank; she could hardly believe what she had just heard."That's right—I was the one who prepared that bottle of red wine," her boss said.Upon receiving verbal confirmation, Yvonne was instantly overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She didn't know what to say."What? You have a problem with that?"Upon noticing her boss' tone, Yvonne quickly replied, "No, no! I wouldn't dare! My life is yours, after all. So, of course, I wouldn't have a problem with something like this."Yvonne had once been left destitute, and it was her boss who had taken her in and given her a second chance at life. As such, she was not exaggerating when she said that."Don't overthink it. Felix and I are simply not meant to be, but it's only fair that I give him a little something since he's my fiancé."A woman like you will be utterly unattainable to him in the future. When we finally meet one day, he'll know that he should be content."Yvonne could only take it with a bitter smi
"You want to pursue Ms. Summers?" Belle asked.Joshua nodded with a serious look. "That's right.""You do know that she's the first goddess of war in Dragonia and the dream girl of most men, right? What makes you think you are qualified to pursue her?"Joshua already had an answer prepared for this question."I'll let you in on something. My uncle is the chief of Dragon Alliance's Lawson Clinic, and I'm not too shabby myself, being the vice president of Stellar Group and all. Is that not good enough?"Belle was slightly taken aback."To be honest, your position as vice president of Stellar Group isn't worth mentioning, but your uncle's position does mean something."As Xena's deputy, needless to say, Belle knew how powerful Dragon Alliance was. That faction was where hidden talents thrived, and being one of the chiefs for Dragon Alliance was quite a feat."Before I help you, you should know something. If you can't even handle the matter, don't think about pursuing her," Belle s
Felix stood at the entrance of an alley at around 7:00 pm with a confused look.He stood at the location Sasha had given him, but no matter how much he looked around, the place didn't seem like there would be a restaurant there."Felix."In less than a minute, Sasha appeared."Is the restaurant here?" Felix asked.Sasha answered with a smile, "Yes, there's a fondue restaurant here that's been around for years. The food is really good."Fondue? Felix wasn't going to question it. It didn't matter what they ate. He'd be grateful as long as Sasha would stop bothering him.As they turned the corner into the alley, the fragrant aroma of food hit them, instantly increasing his appetite.There was indeed a fondue restaurant nestled in the alley. There was even a line of people waiting to be seated at the entrance."Don't we need to line up?" Felix was puzzled when he saw Sasha walk right in."No need. I've known the owner for a long time and reserved a table ahead of time."The rest
Felix didn't give Sasha's behavior much thought.After all, Sasha was used to being pampered by Nattie, and with this being a sort of farewell, she was likely in a bad mood. Felix thought it was only natural for her to be a bit temperamental."It seems you two prefer to suffer the consequences rather than do things the easy way."The men in black surrounded them, and Felix raised his hand."Guys, running a small business isn't easy for these folks. If you have any problems with me, let's settle them outside."Seeing Felix head outside, Sasha breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally taken the bait.Just now, she had acted out of desperation. It would have been a big problem if Felix had truly abandoned her. Thankfully, everything was back on track.There were only a dozen or so bodyguards. It also seemed like their employer hadn't shown up yet.Since Felix didn't want to cause trouble, he suggested, "How about you let us finish our meal first, and we'll leave right after?""He
They were Kane's men? Felix slapped the burly man, sending him straight to the ground."The rest of you, clean this place up quietly. Otherwise, don't expect to leave here unharmed."There was no way they were actually Kane's men—his men would have recognized Felix. If they were indeed Kane's men, they would be fools.Felix's smack didn't seem all that frightening, but how he broke the bat was so intimidating that the remaining men quickly started cleaning up the place.A few moments later, they stood in the garden, none daring to meet Felix's gaze."Who sent you?"At that moment, a car abruptly pulled up at the gate, and a few armed men got out."There's been a report of an assault here. Everyone, stay where you are, and don't move!"As if their saviors had arrived, the thugs all pointed at Felix."It was him!""That's right! He attacked us for no reason. We don't even know if our friend is dead or alive."The guns were quickly pointed at Felix. The leader then made a hand
"I'll send you the relevant information right now." Joshua hung up the phone before stretching lazily."Handling one measly martial artist is too easy."Joshua believed that Xena's fiancé was just some loser, so it was only natural for Xena not to care about him.To Joshua, this issue could already be considered resolved. Even if they decided it was excessive self-defense, Felix would still get a few years in prison.At the Phoenix Legion base, Belle entered the interrogation room where Felix was being held with a tablet in hand."Felix, do you know why you were brought here?"Felix stared at Belle expressionlessly. "If I find out that you're involved in this, not even Xena can save you."Belle immediately grew anxious at his words."Are you really threatening me right now, Felix? Can't you see where we are? Do you really think you can leave here unscathed just because of your meager connections with Ms. Summers?"With that, she placed the tablet on the table."The person you
The anxious and hesitant Belle couldn't help but take the risk and ask, "Milady, w-why has Mr. Holt Senior suddenly come to the Phoenix Legion base?""He's here to see Colonel Bradley Sutton. It turns out that Bradley's grandfather was Mr. Holt Senior's comrade-in-arms. I just found out about this as well."Belle instantly felt a great sense of relief, like the weight on her shoulders had suddenly been lifted.She had been terrified moments ago, thinking Ernest came specifically because of Felix, which would have caused a major problem.Not long after, a car slowly pulled up, and Ernest stepped out with his bodyguard, Jairo Acosta.Not only did Xena and Belle rush forward to greet Ernest, but a sharp-eyed middle-aged man also approached.That man was none other than Bradley Sutton, a highly influential figure and a colonel in the Phoenix Legion."Mr. Holt Senior!"Seeing Bradley's salute, Ernest said with a smile, "I'm retired now. No need for salutes."Bradley's eyes were fil
"Mr. Hoffman?" Felix muttered. No wonder Delilah had shown up in person."Why didn't Mr. Hoffman just call me?" he asked.Delilah shrugged, raising both hands. "Because it's not convenient. If you make one choice, I can report back and be done with it, saving everyone the time."Felix nodded, finally curious about this big choice. Then, Delilah asked, "Zara, the one with Twinshade Body, came to see you, didn't she?"That caught Felix off guard. "How do you know about that?"Delilah rolled her eyes with a little smirk. If one of her fans saw her like this, they would probably faint from the shock.She explained, "It's not like I'm psychic. Mr. Hoffman told me. Ever since you left Martial City and came back, he's had Ophelia keeping an eye on Zara the whole time, so of course he knows."Ophelia? That explained why he had not seen her around since coming back. "So, what's the choice Mr. Hoffman wants me to make? Is it really about Zara?"Delilah nodded firmly. "Exactly. Mr. Hoff
Donna said, "Felix, Specter's the kind of guy who'll stop at nothing. I'll hold back and observe for now, but if you really prove you've got what it takes, I'll act like I never even saw that woman."…Later, Zara was resting her chin in both palms with a sweet, innocent smile on her face. She hummed, "Mhm!"Felix let out a groan and rubbed his face. "Don't just say 'mhm'! Did you even understand what I just told you?"After piecing together everything Donna had said, Felix laid it all out for Zara. Since Specter could strike at any time and Zara still did not know what Malevolent Phantoms even were, he figured she needed to hear it all."Of course I understood. Relax, honey. I'm not stupid," Zara replied casually. Since she got it, Felix finally let himself relax, too. A weight lifted off his chest, and for the first time in a while, he really looked at Zara's flawless face. He thought, "Yeah—there's no way I can hold back anymore."He said, "Let's take care of something… imp
Felix finally snapped out of it. Just moments ago, Donna had looked so grim, claiming something big was about to happen. Yet now, after her whole speech, it was all about the benefits of Zara being a Hollow Soul.Donna said, "Hollow Soul has a unique trait. If consumed, it can greatly boost your chances of success.""Consumed?" That one word made Felix's face darken instantly. "Success in what exactly?"Donna had tried to be vague, but there was no way Felix did not get the implication. To put it bluntly, she was talking about eating Zara's soul."Whether you're stuck at a plateau in your cultivation, your soul is mutating, or you're trying to master powerful soul-based techniques—offensive or defensive—if it's soul-related, Hollow Soul can drastically increase your chances of success."Felix's expression shifted as something came rushing back to him. Billy had once told him that when the Mystical Explosive Orb absorbed enough soul essence to reach capacity, it could be used to re
Donna added one more thing, her tone grave, "All of S-tier Malevolent Phantoms build our defenses entirely with soul energy. You've clashed with Specter twice now—you should know this already. "So, if your wife ever charged straight at one of us, those terrifying, nearly impenetrable defenses we rely on would shatter like cheap glass in front of her. Hollow Soul breaks right through."That was when it all finally clicked for Felix. Hollow Soul was not just rare—it was a natural-born nemesis to any soul cultivator. Anyone with even a hint of alternative strength could put up a fight, but for beings like Malevolent Phantoms, who relied purely on soul energy, the only real option was to run.Moreover, Zara was not just some non-combatant with a powerful trait. She was the real deal—peak of Grandmaster Realm. With that in mind, Specter's retreat made perfect sense.He asked, "She can't sense the Hollow Soul trait herself, right?"Donna nodded. "Yeah. Unless someone actually explains
Felix urged, "What do you mean by that? Can you not talk in riddles right now?"He was practically squirming with anticipation. It was the first time he had ever seen Donna—an S-tier Malevolent Phantom—so hesitant to speak."Can I say this in front of her?" Donna asked, glancing toward Zara.Felix nodded without hesitation. If it were anyone else, maybe he would have kept them out of the conversation, but Zara was not like other people. Right now, the only thing that seemed to stir her emotions was Felix—absolutely nothing else.Seeing his response, Donna finally spoke up, "Hollow Soul can completely ignore all soul-based attacks, including soul-bound weapons.""What?" Felix stood frozen. He honestly was not sure he had heard her right. The possibility of something being immune to all soul-based attacks sounded ridiculous. And then, a memory flashed—Specter had tried to obliterate his soul, and the attack had clearly been launched. However, the moment Zara showed up, it all ju
Donna said, "Alright. I agree to your terms. And don't worry—when Malevolent Phantoms give our word, we mean it. Specter showing up like that was a complete surprise to me, too. I never imagined he'd go that far off the rails."Seeing that Felix had finally cooled down, Donna spoke again, "Take out the Mystical Explosive Orb. The imprint Specter placed on it has a time limit. If you wait too long, it'll fade."Felix thought that made sense. If anyone could just take someone else's Mystical Explosive Orb and casually absorb their soul essence, the entire system would have collapsed a long time ago. With that in mind, he pulled out the orb and gripped it in his right hand. Donna leaned forward and tapped Specter's orb against it. In an instant, a surge of soul energy shot straight into Felix's soul. The rush was just as satisfying as killing a Malevolent Phantom directly, and the amount was no joke."I'll be heading out now," Donna said, turning to leave.Felix called after her, "W
At the edge of Zuera, near the city border, Felix met with Donna. For now, he kept Zara in the car and did not ask her to step out.Felix teased, "I'm guessing S-tier Malevolent Phantoms like you are too proud to ever say 'sorry' to someone like me, huh?"Donna nodded. "This time, it was my mistake. I didn't expect Specter to be bold enough to pull something like that."To say Felix was not angry would have been a lie—he had nearly lost his life because of this. Of course, he had every right to be furious.He argued, "A mistake? Do you even realize that your so-called 'mistake' almost got my soul erased from existence? Then again, judging by how Specter behaved, "It's clear he wasn't interested in the Mystical Explosive Orb, which means you didn't lose a damn thing. You can just move on and pick your next partner like nothing happened."Donna knew she was in the wrong and did not try to reason.Felix continued, "I just don't get it! Zuera's S-tier Phantoms wouldn't let you in,
Terrence's eyes were surprisingly clear as he gave Felix a faint smile. He said, "I'm a dead man anyway, so why worry about all that? Even if I hadn't told you, I doubt you would've fallen for the trick. I could tell from the way you fought—you're too sharp for that."He looked at Felix, his gaze distant with a hint of nostalgia. He added, "Felix, I believe you're one of the few who'll truly shake the world in the days to come. Let me go in peace. If you can, cremate me. I've never liked the idea of rotting underground."Felix pressed a finger to Terrence's forehead, and the latter closed his eyes.Felix still did not dare use soul search on any of Eight Guardians—mainly because of the Ancient Sage. Just thinking back to Bonnie was proof enough that the Ancient Sage's expertise in soul techniques ran deep. There was no saying what kind of protections or traps were in place, and one misstep could backfire in ways Felix could not afford. Besides, the Guardians were not going around
Felix finally felt relaxed once they arrived in Zuera. For now, it looked like Specter was not coming back—at least not anytime soon. Still, he needed to check with Donna to know for sure.He said, "Zara, give me a minute."Right now, the priority was getting some answers out of Terrence. That mattered more than anything else. Otherwise, Felix would have already killed him instead of dragging him back here.In the hotel suite, Terrence lay half-dead on the bed, barely conscious. Yet, when Felix walked in, he actually smiled.He said calmly, "Getting killed by someone like you? Honestly, I've got no regrets. Ask whatever you want. I'll tell you what I can. But if it's something I'm not supposed to reveal, not even a soul search will get it out of me."Felix did not doubt that at all. After all, Eight Guardians served directly under the Ancient Sage—a figure whose power and methods were far beyond anything Felix could predict or afford to mess with. Especially since that exact figur