Wendy was taken aback and exclaimed, "Grave relocation?" The topic seemed completely disconnected from their previous conversation, and she could not help saying, "Mr. Zeller, I… I don't quite understand."Felix knew he needed to explain, though he kept it brief. "I need Mr. Laird to relocate his family grave. It might seem like an unreasonable request, but it has to be done. Could you ask your father if he can help make this happen?"Given everything Felix had done for her family, Wendy could not refuse to try at least. "Of course, let me make a quick call."This unusual request stemmed from Felix detecting one of the ancient dragon's spine fragments in the area. Since his meridians had evolved and the dragon scale had fully bonded with him, he could sense all nine spine fragments of the ancient dragon within a certain range.According to Gerald, most fragments were marked on the map he provided. However, there was always the possibility that some had been discovered by chance o
Larry took a seat and gestured to the manager, instructing firmly, "No one enters without my permission."Once the door closed, Felix said, "I assume you've figured things out, Mr. Laird?"Larry nodded. "I'd be a fool not to. When I see you dining with Wendy right after Vincent's call, it's not hard to connect the dots." His gesture with the expensive drinks was clearly an attempt to smooth things over after rejecting Vincent's request. It was obvious that Larry was a real people-pleaser. Felix said, "Alright. Let's just get straight to the point. I need you to relocate that grave. I only need access to the back garden for a week, and after that, you can do whatever you want with it."Larry seemed troubled. "Mr. Zeller, seeing how Wendy respects you, I know you're no ordinary person. But that grave means a lot to me, and there's a precious family heirloom buried beneath it. I simply can't agree to this."Larry assumed Felix had somehow learned about the family heirloom and wa
Felix's expression shifted slightly when Xena's name was mentioned. Of all the possibilities he considered, Xena was not among them.Mistaking Felix's reaction for hesitation, Larry decided to lay all his cards on the table. "I'm not just talking about a quick meal, Mr. Zeller. I want to give her a grand reception—if you understand what I mean."Larry's motivation made sense. He was devoted to his restaurant business, and what better way to gain instant recognition than hosting a celebrity of Xena's caliber? With proper publicity, success would be inevitable."Let me guess—you also want to take photos with her and display them in your restaurant?" Felix asked wryly.Larry shifted uncomfortably. "Come now, Mr. Zeller, I know my boundaries. Lady Summers isn't some regular celebrity, so photos are obviously out of the question."The mention of Xena made Felix contemplate the situation carefully. He considered potential alternatives but realized even someone like Vivian, the current
Since Felix had been dragged into the Phantom Poison incident because of her, Xena felt somewhat guilty. Thus, she agreed to the talk. "Alright."As they walked out, Jaden seethed with frustration. If not for his promise to Zara, he would have confronted Felix already."Felix, I'm going to win Xena over before she becomes Warlady," he muttered. "If you're smart, you'll back off now. Zara can't protect you forever."While walking through the neighborhood, Felix decided to skip the small talk. "Have you heard of Yardley Dining?""No, I haven't." Xena shook her head.However, her heart unexpectedly raced, and she could not explain why. Was Felix really planning to pursue her? "I need a favor from Mr. Larry Laird of Yardley Dining," Felix explained. "His condition is having you dine at his restaurant—a very formal, special dinner."Hearing that he was asking for a favor, Xena's excitement instantly deflated. "Absolutely not! I'm about to become a Warlady. Do you expect me to be a p
Jaden's sudden proposal caught Xena completely off guard. In all honesty, the man kneeling before her checked all the boxes of her ideal partner—handsome, kind, accomplished, and backed by the prestigious Crimson Sage Sect. Sadly, the timing was not right. Xena explained gently, "Jaden, you know my grandpa asked me to date Felix for a month. There's still about two weeks left. I hope you understand."Jaden stood up, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot about that."The euphoria from his breakthrough had made him impulsive, momentarily forgetting about Felix, whom he considered insignificant. Nonetheless, he noticed the look in Xena's eyes and felt he still had a chance, especially considering Xena's promotion to Warlady would happen much later. Shortly after Jaden left, the doorbell rang. Xena was a little annoyed, wondering how everyone seemed to know her whereabouts so easily. Then again, it could be Felix.But as soon as she saw who it was, she went
Leia continued, "The second way is to do him a favor. The only opportunity we know of is through his chronically ill sister. But this won't be easy—Alistair once used his greatest war achievement to convince Lord Hector to summon Silas for her, but even Silas couldn't help."Xena's expression fell. If Dragonia's second-ranked healer, Silas, could not help, what hope was there? Any leader knew the invaluable worth of having a capable commander. Hence, earning Alistair's genuine respect was crucial to securing her position as a Warlady."Leia, did you come here just to discourage me?" Xena asked with a bitter smile. "Both options are impossible for me."If Silas could not help, what could she do? Even if she did become Warlady, getting Silas' attention was not guaranteed. And as for the top-ranked healer, that was even less likely. Leia replied, "Don't you know any master healers? Dragonia's history spans centuries. The current top-ten-ranked healers are just those who seek the
Half an hour later, a group of men arrived at the scene, each exuding a fierce, battle-hardened demeanor. It was clear they were experienced combat veterans. "Captain Hill, punish me as you see fit," the first man said with his head bowed low. "I failed to protect Ms. Hill."The man who commanded such respect appeared to be in his 40s, with a square jaw and a cross-shaped scar on his forehead. His cold gaze alone was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine.Alistair replied, "It's not your fault. Yara has been suicidal for a while now. She must have used her inner energy for that burst of movement, despite her condition. You couldn't have kept up. Did her trace disappear here?"The man nodded. "Yes, she could be nearby or much further away." Thanks to his unique practice, he could track a person's scent as long as they did not leave a certain radius.Alistair bit his finger until it bled and began murmuring something. His men's faces paled at this action, and one spoke up
Alistair declared, "In my life, I've only kneeled before my parents, but today, I kneel before you, sir. Please, I beg you to save Yara's life."The dozens of men present suddenly dropped to their knees as well. They all owed their lives to Alistair many times over, so this gesture came naturally to them. Alistair continued, "We broke into your home and attacked without knowing the truth. I'll cut off my own arm if that's what it takes for you to forgive us and save my sister."He raised his right hand, his expression unchanging as he prepared to strike his left arm."If you actually do that, I won't help Yara," Felix warned quickly.Alistair was caught off guard, and his eyes lit up with hope. "You'll help her?"Felix sighed. In truth, he was genuinely moved by Alistair's character. He had met many military men before, but never one like Alistair—someone who combined fierce loyalty with such devotion to family."Everyone, please stand up. This is making me uncomfortable," Feli
Felix felt like crying. After everything he had been through, his feelings for Gerald were beyond words. "Mr. Hoffman, I took another mentor in Martial City. Her name is Deborah Goddard, and she taught me pill cultivation. You won't mind, will you?" Gerald laughed and said, "Why would I? Pill cultivation will be extremely useful to you. If you hadn't taken up on her offer, I'd be the one punishing you." Then, Felix thought of something. "Mr. Hoffman, do you have any photos from when you were young?" "Why?""I want to see how handsome you were back then.""Hah! I'm enjoying the flattery. I was quite the charmer in my youth. My smile would make any girl swoon. But no, I don't have any photos, so don't bother asking." Felix had hoped to confirm if Gerald was the Ancient Sage Cordelia had mentioned, but that seemed unlikely now. Finally, he went on to the main topic. "I met Eloise."Gerald had been humming cheerfully on the other end, but the tune stopped at Felix's words."I
Felix knew about this. All of his nine fellow apprentices indeed practiced different techniques, and Gerald had said those exact words. "Five years ago, I discovered a technique perfectly suited for me by chance, far more powerful than what I practiced then. Eventually, I couldn't resist trying it. I thought I could seek Mr. Hoffman's help if anything went wrong, but nothing happened."Felix felt utterly helpless. "So, you took such extreme measures over this?" Perhaps Gerald had his reasons for lying about other martial arts techniques, but surely this reaction was excessive. "Felix, do you think I'm that petty? If it were just that, of course not. My progress with that technique was remarkable."Over two years ago, I reached its highest level. That's when I discovered a seal on my body." Felix froze. He recalled Kevin's words during their battle in Martial City about what would happen if his nine fellow apprentices broke their seals. Could it be true?"I confronted Mr. Hof
On the television sat a woman, her face devoid of expression. Anyone who saw her would be struck first by her royal bearing. Words like beautiful or gorgeous fell short. She commanded a presence like a queen, which would make anyone feel inadequate in comparison.But Felix did not feel that way. His jaw dropped, eyes filled with utter disbelief. The woman on the screen was none other than his fellow apprentice, Eloise. Felix knew no one could impersonate Eloise. Few had ever met her, let alone possessed the ability to mimic her demeanor. "Eloise?" His question betrayed his inner turmoil. "Felix." When the woman on screen responded, Felix lost all composure. He wished desperately that this was just a dream rather than reality. Eloise was the Grand Cardinal of the Westerio Order? Did that mean she had founded the organization? But why? No wonder they knew everything about him—it all made sense now."Leave us," she commanded.The Scarlet Cardinal bowed and left the room,
Since the prison had no ties to Guneria, Felix did not mind causing a scene there. Luna added, "I've managed to bribe someone inside the prison who can provide intelligence at any time."Felix felt moved. "Thank you for doing all this, Luna." He remembered seeing her text messages when checking his phone earlier, asking him to reach out upon his return. It seemed this was the reason why. "I'd do anything for you."Though the timing felt wrong, Felix spoke up, "I'm married now. Her name is Nerissa."To his surprise, Luna smiled. "Thank you for telling me. I never dreamed we could be together. What we have is already precious enough. It left the deepest mark on my life." Felix sighed to himself. Matters of the heart were the most troublesome, yet sometimes circumstances left no choice."When the time comes to rescue Elliott, I'll let you know," Felix told her as the plane began its landing approach. He needed to find Melissa and Ronan first. "Okay. Please be careful," Luna
After three years, Felix sat on a plane again, though his mind wandered elsewhere. As long as Melissa and Ronan were alive, there would be no issue. With him personally stepping in, their rescue was almost certain.His thoughts lingered more on Malevolent Phantoms. Until now, they had not encountered any A-tier Phantoms, so their true strength remained unknown. Felix was not arrogant enough to believe he was invincible.With so many martial artists around, no one could guarantee control over all of them. If they began a wholesale slaughter of the Phantoms, all their plans would crumble. They would not even risk telling Felix."Felix?"A sudden voice startled Felix. He never expected to meet Luna on a plane after all these years. "Luna? What a coincidence!"Luna burst into tears. Despite her usual composure, three years of separation had taken their toll. She threw herself into Felix's arms. "You're back! You're finally back safely." Felix patted her back awkwardly, aware of the
Felix couldn't kill them? Felix almost thought Xena was joking. He now had almost perfected the Ethereal Constitution. Besides, he had Lumen and the Infinite Shield.He came back to show his skills. Yet now, they were telling him not to kill?"Although Dragonia doesn't have that much soul mastery, there are some for now. Additionally, after three years, several of our martial artists and top experts have the ability to kill the Malevolent Phantoms."At least there wouldn't be a problem dealing with the C-tier and B-tier Malevolent Phantoms. As for Billy, you're familiar with him. He can definitely kill the A-tier Malevolent Phantoms. But again, killing isn't allowed."Felix looked at her seriously. "Then, you'd better convince me."Xena was prepared for this answer. "The order is issued by the headquarters. The Malevolent Phantoms had been sent to gather intelligence. If you kill them—however you kill them—information about their death would be sent somewhere."As for where it'
Felix was silent after hearing the news. After a long pause, he asked, "Are they dead?"Xena knew that despite seeming calm, Felix was like a ticking time bomb—one that was about to blow."No, no! Not long after you left, they were captured by the Westerio Order."The Westerio Order! Felix clenched his fists. He didn't expect that the loose ends he left behind would hurt Melissa. However, it was too urgent of a mission, and he wasn't strong then. Of course, he didn't want to go after the Westerio Order, but he truly didn't expect they would act upon his absence."I'm sorry," Xena said.Felix waved his hand dismissively. "It has nothing to do with you. Melissa and Ronan must've been traveling around the world at the time. They weren't under your protection then."He thought Ronan was strong enough to deal with sneak attacks. Besides, the Westerio Order wouldn't have sent a particularly strong person for the first time. After the first attack, Melissa and Ronan would've definit
Felix felt like Cordelia was just going to say more and more outrageous things, so he hurried away. All of a sudden, he noticed Xena in an armored vehicle."Long time no see."Three years felt like it was yesterday. However, the difference was Felix wasn't conflicted anymore. Meanwhile, Xena's eyes were full of complex emotions. "I heard you got married in Martial City." She had seen and heard the news but didn't want to ask. Yet, she still brought it up now."Yes, I'm married now," Felix replied.There was a pause after his reply before she asked again, "Did you get married to complete the mission, or—"Felix didn't avoid her gaze and said seriously, "I really wanted to get married. Nerissa is truly a good woman, and she's worthy of my time."With that answer, Xena turned away, looking around outside before composing herself. As for what she was thinking, even she wasn't clear on what she wanted. "The Malevolent Phantom I met in Martial City… I didn't notice it before. Is
Xena immediately shook her head. "I dare not say that I know him best, but he is a man who values loyalty and righteousness. If we hide it from him and he finds out through other people, I don't think we can bear the consequences later."A thick silence fell. After a few minutes, Lionel spoke up, "Just… Just do as is. Why don't you tell Felix about those two people?"An hour later, the great mountain in front of them disappeared. Instead, an endless field replaced it. The Warlords were unfazed, but the soldiers from headquarters were stunned.After all, this was like a scene out of a movie. It was incredible. When they got out of their shock, they realized a lot of people stood in the field—so many that they couldn't count.The leader was naturally Felix."Hello, everyone. Long time no see." Felix's face was full of emotion as he saw those familiar faces again. After three years, he had finally come home. No matter how much he felt like he belonged in Martial City, there was n