"Grandpa, did I… did I just space out?" Xena furrowed her brows, feeling like something had been off previously. However, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. It all felt very strange.Curtis took a step forward. "Come on, let's talk about it when we get back. I've already made up my mind."He understood how much his father sacrificed for this marriage arrangement. Felix's master was such a powerful figure. However, they still needed to consider the realities of the present world. Still, Curtis swore not to disappoint his father.…As soon as Felix stepped off the plane in Yartford, someone came up to greet him. "Mr. Zeller, I'm with the headquarters of the Traditional Medicine Association. You can call me Howard. If you need anything today or tomorrow, just let me know."Felix nodded. "Thanks for your help, Howard."Howard Xavier, who was relatively young, was genuinely surprised by Felix's demeanor. Felix was the last of the nine young, renowned doctors to arrive. The oth
The traffic situation in Yartford being terrible was common knowledge. Hence, Felix immediately said, "As long as it doesn't delay my participation in the competition, we can head to your place first. I hope you know that I mean it sincerely."Howard couldn't help but feel moved by that. Instead of continuing straight, he immediately made a right turn. "Mr. Zeller, thank you, really. My family is in serious trouble, but I promise it won't delay you.""Where's your home?" Felix asked. After getting an answer, he sent out a quick message on WhatsApp. He certainly didn't want this situation to cause any delays. About half an hour later, they pulled into an older residential area. The neighborhood clearly showed its age, with cars parked everywhere. Only older complexes from back in the day lacked planned parking spaces."Mr. Zeller, please wait here. I'll head up and deal with this," Howard said before entering the building nearby. Felix got out of the car as well, and less than a mi
The next moment, Howard was shoved aside as a man and a woman entered the room."So, you're Felix Zeller?" Liam Lawson's expression was disdainful, and he rudely pointed at Felix with his right hand. He looked like an average guy. There was nothing particularly striking about his appearance. The woman, on the other hand, looked even worse. Her face was covered in pockmarks, and her mouth had a slight slant. However, her hair looked impressive. Thick and jet-black, it was tied in a ponytail.Seeing that Felix continued sipping his tea and ignored them entirely, Liam became angry and was about to speak when the woman interrupted."My name is Zara Morgan. I've already defeated the others who were selected to come here. They all admitted that their medical skills couldn't compare to mine. Now, you're the only one left. I don't want to waste time, so let's have a match. "If you beat me, the right to compete against the modern medicine practitioners from Guneria tomorrow will be you
"Shut up!" Zara snapped at Liam, her patience finally worn thin. Since meeting Felix, she had sensed something exceptional about him—a feeling that he wouldn't be easily defeated. She had tried to maintain her focus, preparing herself for the toughest challenge. However, Liam's repeated interruptions had tested her limits. Hence, she was genuinely angry.Seeing that his attempts to ingratiate himself had backfired, Liam quickly zipped his mouth and shook his head, signaling that he would keep quiet.At that moment, Felix flicked three silver needles, which flew precisely into Howard's acupoints. Howard instantly closed his eyes, his expression turning to intense relaxation and enjoyment."That's it?" Even though Liam had vowed to stay silent, he couldn't help but stifle a laugh, his expression twisting with amusement.However, Zara suddenly strode over to Howard and observed him closely. After a moment, she inhaled sharply and opened her eyes in disbelief."Oh my God! How is thi
Felix couldn't help but marvel at how renowned Liam's "queen" was. Even though Liam had a loose tongue, he had still been chosen to participate, indicating that his skills in traditional medicine were quite strong and that he had a considerable reputation in the field. In traditional medicine, knowledge was typically passed down from a mentor. Hence, self-taught practitioners were rare. This meant that Liam's mentor was also likely a highly respected doctor. Yet, despite his background, he spoke of his "queen" as an unrivaled figure in their age group, which spoke volumes about her status.After about ten minutes, the room settled, and the last of the movements ceased. An elderly man, William Ziegler, the president of the Traditional Medicine Association's headquarters, stood up. His position was one of great authority."Everyone here understands the significance of tomorrow's competition. The nine young traditional medicine practitioners recommended for this event are now presen
"I am also withdrawing!" Liam declared.After witnessing Felix's use of the Pierce of Trinity firsthand, Liam had no objections to his skill, so he saw no point in continuing the competition.With Liam and Zara withdrawing, the other eager participants hesitated. After a moment, they each followed suit and withdrew as well. After all, if they couldn't even defeat Zara, they stood no chance against Felix. It was better to step back than risk embarrassment in such a crowd.The turn of events didn't surprise William. He then turned his attention to the burly man who had initially voiced objections."What do you think?" William asked.The man had a displeased expression. "Hmph! I seriously question the intentions behind these nominations! How can you expect such a bunch of weaklings to represent our country? "It's laughable that they lack even the courage to compete, yet they dare to call themselves the best young practitioners in traditional medicine!"Liam was irritated by the re
Everyone was shocked when they learned that the judge for this competition would be Xander Fielding. He was ranked tenth among the ten best master healers of Dragonia. Even though he held the last spot, being one of the top ten was still a prestigious position, especially among those studying traditional medicine. Many considered him a role model.After a while, William returned, looking utterly respectful as he walked beside Xander."Dr. Xander Fielding!"Everyone stood up to greet him, including Zara. Regardless of who their masters were or how their skills compared to Xander's, showing respect to a senior was a given.Felix also paid his respects. Even though it wasn't his first time meeting Xander, he saw no reason to act arrogantly.Seeing Xander as a potential savior, Timothy wasted no time complaining, "You've arrived just in time, Dr. Fielding. These youngsters decided on the outcome in private without realizing how crucial tomorrow's event was."Although Zara had agree
After a moment of hesitation, Felix agreed to exchange contact information with Zara."I live in Avesburgh," he said.With his details in hand, Zara smiled sweetly as she watched him enter a taxi."I've met an interesting person, sir. It's the first time since leaving the mountain that I've been defeated by someone my age," Zara muttered.…Felix soon arrived at a bustling commercial street in Yartford. He couldn't help but marvel at the sight. There was a small, 20-square-yard pasta shop with a long line of customers. People were eating their pasta while standing or squatting all around."Indeed, when one door closes, another opens. It's just a matter of time."This pasta shop belonged to Madeline. Despite its tiny size, its prime location in the city meant that the annual rent was a steep one million dollars. While a price might be unreasonable in a place like Avesburgh, it was apparently worth it in Yartford."Felix, you're here," Madeline greeted him warmly as she stepped o
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