Felix froze, then gave a wry smile. "Is it fun joking with someone who just recovered from a near-death experience?" But Xena's expression remained serious. "Do I look like I'm joking?" When Felix collapsed bleeding last night, Xena felt her heart shatter. Only then did she realize her true feelings for him. Those were feelings she had been denying all along. "Yes, I am materialistic, but not mindlessly so! Reality has shown us countless examples of why matching social status matters! I have the looks, figure, and status of the goddess of war. Is it wrong of me to want a better partner?" Felix suddenly realized he had no counterargument. He remembered a news story about a man who worked to put his girlfriend through school. After she earned her doctorate, they married, but the marriage lasted barely two years. According to her, they had lost their common ground. Their vast status difference had created an unbridgeable gap in their worldviews. The internet had split opinions
"This is Felix Zeller, who saved all your lives," the orphanage director said.At these words, a dozen children clumsily kneeled. Their voices were full of gratitude as they said, "Thank you, Mr. Zeller!" "You're amazing! The pain is all gone now!" "Hehe! I want to be just like Mr. Zeller when I grow up. I will become a doctor and save lots and lots of people!" "Me too! I don't want to be an astronaut anymore—I want to be a doctor!" With tears blurring his vision, Felix rushed to embrace the children. At this moment, he knew everything had been worth it. …An hour later, at the Wolfie troops' headquarters, Alistair was reporting to Xena, "Lady Summers, Sonny's unusual behavior suggests hidden motives." Xena nodded. According to headquarters' files, Sonny, who was ranked 12th among the Thirteen Aces, typically deployed his Bloom Seeds in remote villages. The limited knowledge and isolation would allow him to vanish before headquarters noticed. This was his first attack o
Surprised by Gerald's question, Felix laughed. "What's there to regret now? At that moment, there wasn't time to think about anything else. My mind was focused on one thing only." Gerald chuckled. "Now that's my disciple! We have our principles. We act when needed, but we don't spend all day playing savior. "Remember what I told you about the Dragons Destroyer technique?" Felix had memorized every word from Gerald as his mentor. "You said Dragons Destroyer is Dragonia's oldest and most unique martial art technique. Legend says only one person ever mastered it, and I would be next. Its uniqueness is beyond description." Gerald responded casually, "Good, you remember. Now, forge your own path. No matter what happens to you, you'll always be my disciple. Nothing and no one can change that." Feeling touched, Felix recalled something. "Oh, Mr. Hoffman. I didn't want to trouble you, but someone from the Elders' Council showed up. In my current state, I'm worried about whether I can
"Interesting. Let's see what happens when I refine this Dragonspine!" Felix muttered.Outside, Vivian maintained her guard silently after Felix jumped and disappeared below. Four hours passed before Felix jumped back up. "Change of plans. We're staying," he instructed.Vivian did not dare question it. Besides, she wanted to spend more time with Felix anyway. After leaving Yardley Dining, Felix called Larry. "Mr. Laird, I apologize, but plans have changed. I'll need your backyard for a month." Without his internal energy, Felix could only refine the Dragonspine for four hours before exhaustion set in. At that rate, it would take about a month. "Mr. Zeller, please, you're too polite! I've moved the graves, and no one uses the backyard. Take a year if you need it." After witnessing Felix's status, Larry was not foolish enough to miss this opportunity to build connections with someone so influential. "Thanks. I appreciate it." Just after hanging up, Luis called again. "Mr. Ze
Xena maintained her composure. "It's not him. How could it be? You think someone in Felix's condition would be worthy of me?" She stood to leave. "I'm sorry, but I've worked too hard to get where I am. When the Warlord of the East gives advice, I have to take it." Xena could not admit Felix was the reason. The first time she met Jaden, he had tried to kill Felix. Before, there might have been obstacles, but now Felix was just an ordinary person without martial arts skills. For Jaden, killing him would be like crushing an ant. She could not assign 24/7 protection to him, could she? Besides, Jaden had nearly achieved the level of Martial Emperor. He could literally kill Felix with a flick of his finger. How could she guard against that? Left alone in the private room, Jaden's expression darkened as he clenched his fists. He felt that he was being toyed with, though Xena had never actually promised him anything. "This must have something to do with Felix. I won't let you live
What a joke. How dare a mere leader of a bunch of car thieves disrespect one of the underworld's major players? Viper forced a nervous smile. "Mr. Luis, I… I wouldn't dare normally. But these are my boss' rules. I'll be in trouble if I don't follow them." Boss? Luis had never heard of Viper having a boss. "Who's your boss? Tell them to come here and repeat that!" Almost immediately, footsteps approached. A young man appeared while casually smoking a cigar. "Sure thing, Mr. Luis. I'm Viper's boss. Any problems with my policies?" Luis' eyes narrowed in surprise. "Pierce Langden?" Felix noticed Luis' wariness and asked, "Do you know him?" Luis nodded, whispering, "Pierce is the illegitimate son of Andrei Hawkins, the richest man in Canraville." The richest man in Canraville? Felix understood now what was happening. "Stand down," Felix instructed.Luis wanted to protest but stayed quiet. Truth was, he could not afford to offend Andrei. Even with his brother's help, they we
"Felix, I'm meeting Nessa's parents soon. If everything goes smoothly, we'll be handing out wedding invitations," Jack revealed.At the bar, Jack was grinning ear to ear. He was not getting any younger. To him, success in life meant both career and family. With his career already set, marriage was the logical next step. "Am I right, Nessa?" Vanessa smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I get to choose whoever I want to marry. My parents can't tell me what to do." Though there would certainly be some resistance, she was being truthful. Besides, everything would surely work out once Felix had given her that book of martial arts techniques. "I'm going to use the bathroom," Felix said. Beer always had a way of sending people to the bathroom. After finishing up and washing his hands, Felix was rounding the corner when someone blocked his path. Felix stepped aside, but the guy matched his movements and kept blocking him. From his swaying body and the heavy stench of alcohol, it was cl
Jack was still uneasy after hanging up. Then Vanessa asked with a grave look, "Are you sure you heard right? Did they say Crimson Sage Sect?" "Yeah! What's wrong? Do you know about them?" Vanessa's eyes showed a mix of emotions. "Crimson Sage Sect is an extremely powerful organization. Felix is in serious trouble this time." What? Jack did not know much about these matters, but his girlfriend was a martial artist, so he had to trust her judgment. "Damn it, let's go! We can't just sit here doing nothing!" The only thing he could do now was contact everyone he knew or tried to find out if Felix had any powerful connections they could reach out to. "Wait, Felix's phone is still on the table. I'll grab it," Vanessa said.When Vanessa came back, Felix's phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, she remarked puzzlingly, "Xena? Isn't that Dragonia's goddess of war? How does Felix know someone like that? No, it must be someone else with the same name." Jack did not care about th
"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