Hearing Vivian say the same thing, Felix thought he must have misheard. After all, Vivian was the deputy chief of the Earthern Hall in Dragon Alliance. How could she not get a ticket to this so-called Golden Prime Auction? "Felix, Golden Prime Auction tickets are never sold. They're distributed based on qualifications, and it's only held once a year. No one who gets a ticket ever resells it. Even among our Dragon Alliance chiefs, only a select few qualify as far as I know." Felix understood now. Though Vivian did not say it outright, it was clear that Kane, who had just become chief of Oasis Clinic, would not make the cut. "I see." On the other end, Vivian felt bad. Felix had only asked for one thing, yet she was powerless to help. The key was that Yale had taken the Dragon Ring now. If not, getting a ticket would have been a breeze. Without the Dragon Ring, only she and Kane would recognize Felix as the Dragon Lord. Others would not see him that way anymore. The Dragon Allia
Yvonne looked at Felix with a strange expression. "I don't know what you're planning, but people like that block all unknown numbers. It'd be useless even if I gave you his number." Felix had forgotten about that. He hesitated, then said, "Can I use your phone to call him, then?" To his surprise, Yvonne handed over her phone without hesitation. But she warned, "Whatever you're going to say, apologize immediately if he gets angry, and don't say anything else." "I understand." Yvonne was curious about Felix's intentions. It would not matter even if this angered George and he took it out on her. Unlike last time, this was not her personal issue. With Felix involved, her boss would not stay out of it. George would have to behave if she stepped in. Felix went into the guest room on the first floor and dialed George's number using Yvonne's phone. It rang for a long time before someone picked the call up. "Yvonne, make it quick. I'm busy." "George, it's Felix."There was a ru
Dazed, Yvonne sat on the couch. She could not comprehend this. Last time, George had personally shown up to cause Felix some trouble. When he left in the end, she had assumed Felix was just too unimportant for George to bother with. That was why Felix had been let off the hook, or so she thought. After hearing their conversation over the phone now, she finally understood. She had been puzzled all this while. George was not the type to let things slide. Spoiled as he was, he was not stupid. If he could mess with someone, he would certainly go for the jugular. Yet, Felix had walked away unscathed. "Why on Earth is George so cautious around Felix? And since when does he call anyone 'Mister'?" These questions buzzed around in Yvonne's head, which gave her a migraine. She even wondered if she should be reporting this to her boss. After some contemplation, Yvonne decided to keep it to herself. If she had not slept with Felix, she would have spilled every detail. But now that Geor
Two days flew by. A plane touched down in Yartford at 10:00 am. Not long after, Felix and Jack hugged at the exit. Jack teased Felix the moment he landed, "Were you worried I've got something going on with Madeline? Coming all the way to Yartford to keep an eye on us, huh?" Felix playfully punched his arm. "Come on. Let's head to the restaurant. Madeline's already waiting for us."The Golden Prime Auction was not until evening, so Felix had time to kill. Plus, he wanted to see how Madeline was adjusting to life in her new city. "Life is interesting sometimes. Maddy's life in Avesburgh was hellish. But ever since she bumped into you, it totally changed for the better after she moved to Yartford." Intrigued, Felix asked while they were in the car, "What do you mean? Are you talking about her career or love life?" Jack flashed a double thumbs-up. "Both." As Jack filled him in, Felix could not help but smile. With the few million dollars he had given her, Madeline had rented a
Felix was not surprised. Yale was the Dragon Alliance's vice leader and now held the Dragon Ring as the new Dragon Lord. Tracking Felix's movements would not be hard. "What if you're not bored?" Felix asked. Harold chuckled and said, "Simple. I just got to Avesburgh, right? Though everyone's calling me Lord Jamison, the truth is I'm short on cash. My place is pretty crappy. "So, I was wondering if you would lend me your big villa to crash in? And you know I don't like sharing a roof with others. You get it, don't you?" He wanted Felix's house? Felix said, "Fine. I'll give you the passcode. You can move in today and stay as long as you like." Harold laughed. "Thanks! Guess I won't be heading to Yartford, after all." After hanging up, Felix's mood remained unaffected. Harold thought he had all the time in the world to play games, but it was quite the opposite. With Averill's skills, finding Yvette would only take a few days. The Golden Prime Auction was set to start at
Wendy tucked the ticket away and picked up her coffee with a smile. She said, "What trouble? You're overthinking, Felix. I'll just return the ticket. It's no big deal. "Cheers! Here's hoping you snag that Moon's Tear at the auction!" As Felix took a sip of coffee, he got a call from George. "Mr. Zeller, are you there yet? I'm on my way." "Yeah, I'm at Sunside Café.""Cool! I'll meet you there. It won't be long." Just as he hung up, a middle-aged man appeared at their table. "Ms. Kinsley, you know Mr. Jackman's temper. We've got five minutes left. You'd better come with me now." A flicker of panic crossed Wendy's eyes. She hurriedly stood up while pulling out the ticket again. "Please give this back to Mr. Jackman. My friend already has a ticket. Tell him I'm grateful and that I'll make it up to him however I can." But the man did not take it. Instead, he sneered and said, "Wendy Kinsley, when has Mr. Sean Jackman ever taken back something he's given? Everyone in Yartford
The middle-aged man spun around. Seeing who had tapped his shoulder, his scowl instantly melted into a fawning grin. "Mr. Zimmerman? You... You must be joking. I'd never dare summon you." Without warning, George, who had just appeared, slapped the man hard across the face. "You piece of trash! How dare you talk to Mr. Zeller like that?" Mr. Zeller?The man's mind went crazy as he started to panic. Did George really call this guy "Mr. Zeller"? No way! Felix was Wendy's friend, so his social status had to be so low that he would not even be fit to lick Sean's boots.But the evidence was right in front of him, and he did not dare doubt it. "Mr. Zimmerman, please forgive me. I had no idea." Another slap landed. George waved his hand dismissively. "Get out! You're not even worthy of apologizing to Mr. Zeller. Tell Sean Jackman about this. He'll know how to deal with it." "Yes, yes! I'm leaving right now!" Felix kept quiet. With George stepping in, Wendy was out of the woods.
Felix and George settled into the fourth row, gesturing to the staff to push their single-seater chairs together. Considering the high-profile attendees present, Felix could not help but feel curious about George's bold move. It was a clear statement to others about their close relationship. "Showing me this much love? What if my ties with Moonshadow Alliance aren't as close as you think?" Felix teased. George shrugged casually and said, "Come on. A friend is a friend, and having more friends means more opportunities. I'll prove myself through actions. If I ever need your help and you're able and willing, I won't hesitate to ask. If you can't, no hard feelings. Life's unpredictable, you know?" Felix nodded in agreement, a smile playing on his lips. Then, George continued, "The first three rows are off-limits to the younger crowd."George's explanation hinted at his own elevated position. In other words, the fourth row onward was where the younger generat
"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