Ryan left after giving his warning. He had only consumed a bowl of soup during their encounter. "Mr. Zeller, I'm so sorry," George said.Felix chuckled in response. "What does it have to do with you? I seem to naturally attract trouble, so it's no big deal."Regardless of what Ryan intended, Felix wouldn't hold back if it came down to a confrontation. George understood that Felix was a reasonable person but couldn't help but show a hint of bitter amusement."To be honest, Mr. Zeller, you really gave me quite a shock! Do you actually have some connection with Lady Nala?" George asked.Seeing George's reaction, Felix sensed something was off. "What's going on? Do you know something?"George sighed, and his eyes flickered with mixed emotions. "In all of Dragonia, anyone capable of stepping into the upper echelons knows that Lady Nala has five admirers, and Ryan is one of them! Let's not talk about the others. Anyway, given her status, all those who pursue her have a great status."
It would be a lie to say that Michelle was completely unbothered. However, she wasn't one to retaliate with sharp words. Instead, she spoke in a low voice. "We're all colleagues. Is this really necessary?"The two women sneered. "What? You still won't admit you sold a villa with your body? If you can, why don't you sell a few more houses? How ridiculous!""That's right. If you want us to stop casting weird glances at you, you should prove us wrong with your actions. But do you have that ability?" Just as their taunts faded, a colleague, accompanied by a woman, rushed over. "Michelle, this client is looking for you."Michelle quickly turned away, and a signature smile appeared on her face. "Hello, I'm Michelle Smith."The newcomer was Wendy, who looked her up and down before smiling. "I'm Wendy Kinsley. I'd like to buy two villas from you if that's okay?"Michelle could hardly believe her ears. After a moment, she quickly responded with enthusiasm, "Of course! Please follow me. I
Before George could finish speaking, Michelle had already covered her mouth in shock. The expressions of those around her mirrored her disbelief. It had to be a joke. Rolling two dice could yield a maximum number of 12, which meant potentially buying 12 villas. If that were the case, Michelle would earn so much in commissions that she could kick back and relax.Even though the probability of rolling a 12 was exceedingly low, it didn't matter; the smallest number was two, meaning she would still be making a huge profit. The crowd slowly began to realize that Michelle's success was not merely luck. Clearly, someone powerful was supporting her.Even the sales manager and several members of the management team rushed out, as the commotion was too great to ignore. At that moment, George had already tossed the two dice onto the ground. After rolling around, they came to a stop, prompting everyone to gasp."Wow, it's 12! Why didn't I have this luck when I was gambling?" George muttered,
The VIP seats were in the middle of the concert hall, closest to the performance stage. Everyone knew they were reserved only for the elites. Naturally, most of them were young people; the older generation was rarely seen. Dreamscape wouldn't invite them, either.The VIP seats were all large, single-person couches with unmatched comfort. Beside each couch was a small table with various fruits and drinks.George was one of the earliest to arrive. He had nodded repeatedly to many people he knew, although not to the extent of standing up and greeting them. A polite nod was more than enough.However, he had to stand for some people, such as Nala, who was just passing by him now."Lady Nala, I can't believe you actually came."Nala, as always, wore her veil. Whenever people saw her, there was an urge to lift the veil, though none had the courage."Hmm."With a slight nod, Nala continued onward with Yvonne by her side."Could you let me say a few words to Yvonne?"Without breaking h
"You'll bring me in? What do you mean?" Felix asked, frowning. He didn't recall Xena ever inviting him to the concert."Oh, don't be so coy. I'm in charge of security for this concert, so bringing you in shouldn't be an issue for me." Xena retorted.Felix glanced subtly in Alistair's direction and suddenly understood what was happening."Thank you for the gesture, but Alistair's already left. You don't need to put on this fake show of affection with me."Had Alistair left? Xena turned slightly, confirming that Alistair had indeed already moved off with his team. As always, he was meticulous. Even though he saw Felix, he hadn't stopped to greet him and only focused on his duties."Now that I've made the offer, I won't go back on it! You came all this way to see Dreamscape's concert, right? I'll take you in," Xena insisted.Felix chuckled coldly. If this had been anyone's first encounter with Xena, they might have mistaken her for a gentle, understanding woman. But the truth was th
"Yes, my mistake," George said apologetically.But what had happened had already happened. Felix hadn't been wrong. Initially, everyone focused on the pre-show program on stage, and no one noticed Felix until George came over to his side.Nala and Yvonne were among the first to notice. Their expressions changed upon seeing Felix."Interesting. Felix got an invitation to Dreamscape's concert, too?" Nala mused.Yvonne, however, seemed puzzled. "Lady Nala, isn't it normal for him to be invited, considering he's the top young medical talent in Dragonia?"Nala's gaze returned to the stage before she replied, "You don't understand. Dreamscape's invitation criteria aren't that straightforward. Take a closer look. Why is Ryan the only one here out of the five who are pursuing me? Is he more talented than the other four or the leader in some field?"Yvonne paused, realizing she had been wondering the same thing. If Ryan was here, why hadn't the other four shown up?"I can't explain why,
Dreamscape invited Felix backstage? He was taken aback. Truth be told, he didn't know Dreamscape, nor had he ever paid her much attention. Why, then, had she singled him out and invited him backstage?Seeing him hesitate, the manager nearly slapped him on the spot. If it weren't for Dreamscape's instructions to treat him politely, she would have let her anger flare.Was he joking? This was an invitation from Dreamscape herself—a face-to-face meeting!Anyone else would have been overjoyed and wouldn't hesitate for a second, but here he was, actually thinking it over."Fine, I'll go with you." Felix finally rose, curious about what Dreamscape wanted from him.As he followed the manager, everyone in the VIP area turned and looked. It was an unprecedented sight."Oh? Could it be that Felix knows the mysterious Dreamscape? If so, that might explain why he was invited to the concert," Nala murmured.She made no further comment as she stood to leave. Yvonne, who was about to share her
Felix nodded earnestly. "It was incredible, Delilah. It was truly moving. I'm not exaggerating."Receiving Felix's praise, Delilah's expression lit up with happiness. However, she soon pouted her lips."I thought you'd be so smitten with someone else that you wouldn't even have the heart to listen to my concert," Delilah said grumpily."Huh?" Felix blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"She extended a slender finger and tapped his chest. Feigning an accusing tone, she said, "Don't play dumb! Leslie has everything in all the right places and sizes. Am I wrong?""Uh!" Felix took a step back, genuinely startled.He stammered as he tried to respond, "How… how do you know about that?"Delilah remained quiet, sinking back onto the couch and fixing Felix with a direct, piercing gaze that made his scalp tingle.Felix quickly started explaining, "Delilah, I had no choice! Didn't Leslie explain it to you? She was poisoned, and I did what I had to do!"Delilah laughed. "Silly, did you
"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