Xena kept her head down, and her voice was barely above a whisper. "I... I want to do another Spirit Binding with you."Felix heard her with full clarity as his cultivation made that effortless. Finally, he understood why she was acting so out of character.Just as Billy had said, ordinary people couldn't resist the allure of Spirit Binding. Even Xena had become addicted.For a woman to muster the courage to say something like this, it spoke volumes about how deeply it had affected her.He sighed."That time was a necessity—an emergency. We can't do it again. It's for your own good. The more you experience it, the harder it becomes to resist. Eventually, you'll lose all self-control, and then things will get even messier. You might even do something reckless," he explained.Xena finally looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears."Why are you doing this to me? Yes, the first time was out of necessity, but as a woman, I still agreed to it. Do you have any idea how much cour
Xena turned around with an icy gaze. The authority of a high-ranking officer caused her expression to sharpen."Not interested," she said.If Felix had been there, his blood would've run cold. That was because the man casually inviting Xena to a late-night meal was none other than Specter.Unfazed by her rejection, Specter continued smiling."Don't you want the day to come when you can pin Felix beneath your heel and make him answer to you? Don't you want to see him look up at you one day, forced to regret every wrong he's done? Or are you truly content to let the man who broke you walk away unscathed?"Xena's eyebrow twitched. She studied him carefully, one hand subtly slipping into her purse. She was ready to alert Felix."Who are you?" she asked.Specter rubbed his chin as if genuinely considering the question."Well, it's complicated. Let's skip that part! I'm simply fascinated by Felix. I've invested considerable resources into investigating him, and you are one of the mos
Xena scoffed at his proposal. "How amusing that a Malevolent Phantom is offering to make a human stronger. Do I look like a child to you?"Just then, the chef himself entered the private dining room, carrying steaming plates of food. Once he left, Specter gestured to the food."Eat while it's hot. I have no interest in human food."Xena didn't even reach for her fork as she said, "I've lost my appetite. Am I free to go?"To her surprise, Specter simply waved a hand."You may leave whenever you like. I offered to strengthen you for two reasons. One, because you're a Soulhunter, and two—well, Felix, of course. As for why a Malevolent Phantom would help a human? Let's just say, no matter how strong you get, the final outcome won't change."My contact information is already in your bag. Call me when you've made up your mind."Xena left without another word. However, Specter seemed utterly confident, unfazed by her rejection. He picked up a strand of scalding noodles with his bare fi
Felix frowned, asking, "You're saying Rebirth Sect's hideout has a soul barrier that can detect souls?"Billy only grinned wider. "Yes, exactly! I can't wait to see you groveling to Xena for help. This is gonna be gold."However, Felix smirked and said, "Sorry to disappoint you, but you won't be getting that show."Billy's face scrunched in suspicion."Bullshit! There's no way you can slip past a soul barrier on your own. That thing might not be the best there is, but it's way beyond your current level to bypass."Felix's smile turned smug. "Don't you worry about me."Although Felix's current strength wasn't enough, the Mystery Parchment had returned to him. The artifact didn't just absorb soul-based attacks. It could also conceal his soul, wrapping around it like an invisibility cloak. Unless he actively materialized his soul, he would not be detected. Even if someone had a technique like Spirit Eye, they'd never notice a thing unless their cultivation surpassed his.Honestly
At first glance, Rebirth Sect seemed harmless, especially when compared with Laurel Resort. No deaths were reported, and there was no forced confinement. They even allowed their members to leave on annual breaks, so their freedom was not exactly restricted. "Hey man, why the long face?"A voice snapped Felix out of his thoughts. A blonde man, barely out of his teens, plopped down beside him. A toothpick dangled from his lips like some wannabe tough guy."Nothing," Felix said, barely glancing at him. When he was about to leave, the man said, "Do you have an incurable disease, right? Don't give up yet. Miracles happen every day. If the Reaper hasn't come for you, that means you've still got a shot."Upon hearing that, Felix remained seated. "That's easy for you to say. You're healthy. It must be nice joking about it."Felix figured that the man was a preacher for Rebirth Sect. Xena had told him that they had identified all the preachers of the sect. However, they didn't take any
"You'll need to get out here. I don't come this way often, so I forgot the rules. No worries, though. They're just here to welcome you," the taxi driver said.Upon hearing the taxi driver's explanation, Felix glanced outside. The three white-robed figures were smiling warmly. He realized he had misinterpreted the situation and said, "Thanks."After paying, Felix stepped out and was immediately greeted with enthusiasm. Apparently, the driver had forgotten that Rebirth Sect members would intercept visitors at a certain point. There was no need to drive all the way to the main complex."Have you come to join Rebirth Sect?" they asked.Felix put on a hesitant expression. Since they were approaching him, the soul barrier must have let him through."I-I just wanted to ask if it is true that you can cure cancer here?" Felix asked.The leader, a middle-aged man in his 40s, smiled even wider."Of course. Many of our devotees were once cancer patients. Now? They live in perfect health.
There was no other choice. Felix could only make his face flush a little red. He was supposed to be suffering from brain cancer, not a total lack of reaction. Given her stunning body and gorgeous face, it would be weirder if he didn't react at all when she was so up close and personal.Finally, Yanny stood up, repeatedly bowing as she apologized. However, she moved so slowly that the few undone buttons on her top gave him an even clearer view. It was so clear that he could see everything perfectly even though he was lying down."It's fine," Felix said.Yanny let out a relieved sigh, then she flashed him a sweet smile."You're Felix Zeller, right? That's a really nice name. The results will take a little longer, so don't stress too much, okay? No matter what, you'll be able to live normally."As she spoke, she suddenly lifted her shirt, pointing at her smooth, flat abdomen."I used to have cervical cancer, but now I'm completely cured. That's how amazing Rebirth Sect is! Look, not
Felix sighed internally but exaggerated his reaction. "You… You want to help me bathe?"This would be an incredibly awkward situation for most people, but Yanny acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world."Of course! As your guide, we'll be inseparable from now on. We'll even be sleeping in the same bed. So what's wrong with helping you bathe?"Felix quickly pulled his hand away and rushed into the bathroom. "You don't need to do that. I can do it myself."After watching the bathroom door close, Yanny's lips curled into a subtle smile. This behavior was normal to her. Give it a few days, and things would be completely different.After his shower, Yanny took Felix on a walk around Rebirth Sect's compound. It was an opportunity for him to gather useful information."The ones in yellow robes are our elders. When you see them, place your palms together in front of your chest and give them your best smile."Felix smirked. "I thought I'd have to kneel or bow or something.
Ginny was naturally present as well, and she spoke up at that moment. "Mr. Goldstein, no one wanted to see Justus die like that. But why did you bring your people to Longstone residence? Are you suggesting that his sudden death has something to do with us?"Joaquin's expression grew darker as he looked at her. He blamed Ginny for this, thinking that none of this would have happened if she had just agreed earlier. And now, they couldn't even determine the cause of death."No connection? That doctor from your household, Felix Zeller—he's the one responsible for Justus' death."Right then, someone spoke up from the crowd. "That's him! That's Felix Zeller!"Felix, who had been calmly sitting in a chair, finally saw Wagner standing among them. And in that moment, everything made sense."Wagner? You've gotten quite bold, huh?" Gras sneered.Wagner flinched at Gras's words, but remembering that he now had the Goldsteins backing him, he stiffened his spine and stood tall. "Cut the crap
In Cloud City, there were a few noble families. Nonetheless, behind the polite smiles, tensions surged. Infiltrating each other's estates with spies had practically become a tradition. While they rarely uncovered major secrets, the information they did gather always gave them a head start.So when the news broke, Gras didn't doubt it for a second. He jumped to his feet, furious. "This is outrageous! Their son dies, and somehow it's the Longstone family's fault?"Ryker looked just as puzzled, agreeing that the accusation made no sense.But Felix let out a quiet, weary sigh. "Mr. Longstone, I'm afraid this is probably my fault. I'm a doctor, and I've gotten a bit of attention lately. After they failed to determine the cause of Justus' death, and given our meeting earlier today, they likely saw an opportunity to drag your family into the mess." Gras's expression darkened, knowing that Felix wasn't wrong. After all, doctors could also be poisoners, and plenty of martial artists had fa
It was clear someone had said something to Justus. Otherwise, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point.Felix said calmly, "It was a standard therapeutic massage technique, and I was blindfolded the entire time. Does that explanation satisfy you? Or would you rather find someone else capable of treating Ms. Longstone—I'll gladly step aside if you can."Justus sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Cut the crap, Felix. Don't act like I don't know exactly what's going through your head. Ginny's the heiress of the Longstone residence—Gras's precious jewel. Everyone knows that marrying her is like securing the entire household. Don't tell me that thought never crossed your mind.""It didn't," Felix said simply.Unfortunately, that answer was never going to satisfy Justus. He snarled, "Listen up, boy! I'm giving you three days to get the hell out of the Longstone residence. If you don't, you won't even get the chance to regret it. Everyone else might be afraid of Gras—but I
As Wagner watched Justus explode in rage, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. With what he'd just uncovered, there was no need to exaggerate—it was already explosive enough on its own.After all, Justus' future fiancée was touched in that kind of intimate way by a young, healthy doctor. Any man with a spine would lose it."But Justus," Wagner added with a smirk. "Didn't Felix just get publicly praised by the Green King?"Cloud City wasn't that big. Anyone with any influence had been keeping close tabs on Green King Manor—especially with the mystery man who walked out of Desolated Lands involved. So, the news of Felix being rewarded had already spread far and wide.Justus clenched his jaw. "So what? It's just a flash in the pan. If he was truly skilled, the Green King would've kept him. But as long as he hasn't climbed into the Green King's inner circle, I can crush him whenever I want."Wagner's grin widened. That was exactly the attitude he needed. If Justus had shown
The moment the Flame Monarch mentioned the Healer Sage, the Green King's expression shifted noticeably. "So the Sage really was living out there in seclusion... No wonder. Flame Monarch, does this mean you've taken a liking to Felix?"But the Flame Monarch waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that."That response made the Green King secretly rejoice. If the Flame Monarch didn't intend to recruit Felix, then he understood why—and that was perfect. It meant the opportunity to take Felix under his own wing was wide open.The night passed quietly. Felix stood beside Christopher's bedside, noticing the man's breathing had grown steady and stable.At this point, the herb had run its course and was no longer effective. But what was left inside Christopher's soul—a strange, lingering force—was exactly what Felix had hoped for.Christopher was alive but completely unconscious. The remaining energy had no regenerative properties, which meant he'd likely never wake again. For Fe
Felix wasn't the least bit surprised by the Flame Monarch's reaction, but he still feigned confusion. "Flame Monarch, I'm sorry... but I don't understand. What do you mean by soul-related injuries?"Just from that single line, Felix confirmed what he suspected—Aquamarinus had no concept of soul-based matters. Whether it was training methods or anything else, this realm hadn't yet touched that domain.The Flame Monarch stared at him, pressure radiating from his body. Felix immediately felt his limbs start to tremble under the invisible weight."You don't know? Then how could you claim to treat that man's condition?" Felix calmly pointed toward the herbs laid out on the table. "The force inside him is definitely strange. It triggered a memory... I once sensed something very similar, and it came from within that herb. It was purely instinct—when something feels familiar, there's a chance it might work."The Flame Monarch shifted his gaze to the herb, then said flatly, "Start from th
Felix gave him a direct and honest answer. "As long as I have enough herbs. I can treat him. I won't promise a full recovery, but one thing I can guarantee you is that this man won't die."For now, that was the best possible answer anyone could offer.The Flame Monarch replied, "Good. Begin. As long as you can keep him alive, you'll be handsomely rewarded."It seemed the Flame Monarch already knew something and never truly expected anyone to completely cure Christopher. Preserving his life alone would already be a feat."Flame Monarch, please reconsider!" one of the elderly doctors suddenly cut in, seething with resentment. "This boy is barely grown—how could he possibly possess such remarkable skill in medicine?"The Flame Monarch turned and gave him a cold, mocking glance. "If he can't do it, then can you?"The old man went silent. Perhaps fearing the loss of favor or acting out of sheer pride, he hesitated. Eventually, he found the courage to speak again."I admit I can't, bu
The Green King's expression changed instantly, and he turned to Felix in a hurry. "Dr. Zeller, please come with me to greet him.""Of course," Felix replied.For anyone in Aquamarinus, getting the chance to see the Flame Monarch up close was like a once-in-a-lifetime dream, and people would probably die happy just for that. Naturally, Felix put on a show of reverence as well, even if he didn't feel it deep down.As they reached the front gate, Felix saw several figures striding toward them with heavy steps. At the front of the group was a towering man, nearly nine feet tall. Even someone as built as Dave looked like a delicate bystander next to him.What stood out the most was his bright crimson hair, which flared upward like flames, making it look like his head was on fire. His facial features were fairly average, but the power behind his gaze radiated pure, undeniable authority.So, this was the Flame Monarch?Felix studied him closely. He suspected the man had cultivated some
According to the rules set by the Flame Monarch, the position of Minor Kings rotated every five years. Those who made outstanding contributions could keep their titles, but anyone who fell short would have to fight for their place all over again.The Green King knew he wasn't particularly strong—he was painfully aware of that. And with the next year marking the fifth year, the pressure was mounting fast. So when Christopher appeared, it felt like fate. If he could heal this man before the Flame Monarch arrived with his elite doctors, the credit would be immense, and his reappointment would be virtually guaranteed. Anyone who had never held a Minor King title wouldn't understand just how many perks came with it. If they did, no one would give it up willingly."I can treat him," Felix said calmly. "But I can't promise a full recovery."The Green King smiled. "Do your best. Even if you can only keep him alive, that alone is worth it."Two doctors before had said that Christopher's b