Andrei always aimed for the safest approach in everything he did. When it came to dealing with Felix, Pierce was just one piece of the puzzle, and there was a backup plan that even Theodore was unaware of. "Dad! My… my legs are ruined! You have to kill Felix. You have to kill him!" Pierce cried.Andrei crouched down and gently stroked his cheek. "Don't worry. I'll definitely avenge you. For now, rest and focus on your recovery," Andrei said.Andrei's assurances comforted Pierce. After all, he believed Felix could not be a match for his father.Theodore asked, "Mr. Hawkins Senior, do you still plan to continue?" Andrei furrowed his brow before responding, "The Dragon Alliance's involvement was unexpected. Stopping now would indeed be a good choice, but I promised Perry that I wouldn't back down unless the odds were massively against us." Theodore remained silent. After all, everything was Andrei's call, and his own role was simply to advise.Andrei asked, "Can we find out what
Felix's expression turned strange as he contemplated the situation. Earlier, George had turned from enemy to friend because of Moonshadow Alliance, and any sensible person would know George would need Felix's help eventually. However, Ryan was different. He definitely did not know about Felix's connection to Moonshadow Alliance. Even if he did, given his much higher status than George, he would not actively try to curry favor. As he thought about it, Felix could not help but feel amused.Ryan laughed, seemingly aware of Felix's doubts. "What? Don't believe me? Treating kids should be routine as a doctor, but you're different. You sacrificed all your reputation without hesitation."Honestly, while I might seem carefree, I know when to respect people and their actions. You saved over a dozen orphans last time and put yourself on the line—that's worthy of this!" As he spoke, he gave a thumbs up. Felix was speechless as he looked at Ryan's genuine expression. There was not a
Setting aside everything else, everyone knew Gerald's apprentice would need to have exceptional medical skills. At his young age, Felix had never met anyone else who could claim the title of master healer, which made it too easy to spot an imposter. However, someone of Ryan's status did not seem like they would be easily fooled. So, Felix asked, "Do you know Dr. Hoffman's apprentice?" Ryan shook his head again. "No, but I can take you to meet him. It'll be up to you to make an impression because they won't do it as a favor to me. "All I can do is tell them how you risked everything to save those kids. With a healer's compassionate heart and seeing how many master healers support you, I believe Dr. Hoffman's apprentice might be moved too."Felix finally understood that Ryan had also been deceived. For the sake of Gerald's reputation, Felix knew he had to meet this impostor."Alright, I'll go with you," Felix agreed.Ryan stood up and waved dismissively. "I'll let you know when.
"Yvonne, it's me, Felix—" Felix barely got the words out before the call disconnected. His expression turned tensed as he realized Yvonne had no intention of keeping contact."What happened? Did she hang up?" Jack asked.When Felix nodded, Jack quickly tried calling back, only to hear that the number was no longer in service. Jack's face instantly turned pale, and he grumbled, "Damn it! If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have let you use my phone. Now Ms. Cooper's blocked me too!"Felix looked embarrassed. "My bad, but it won't affect your work." Jack took an angry bite of his breakfast, clearly annoyed. While he knew it would not impact his work, he had to find other ways to contact Yvonne.… Two days passed quickly, with Felix maintaining his strict four-hour daily refining of the ancient dragon's spine. That morning, he opened his eyes and nearly jumped out of his skin. "Averill! This isn't funny!" Felix exclaimed, finding Averill lying beside him as she stared a
Averill turned off the TV with a bored expression. "I'm bored, Felix. Let's play."At those words, Felix quickly waved his hands in protest. "No! Averill, don't try anything funny!" In his current state, without any martial arts abilities, he would be completely defenseless if Averill tried to force herself on him.Averill pouted and revealed a deck of playing cards from behind her back. "What's going on in that dirty mind of yours? I meant these cards, though if you want to play something else, I wouldn't mind," she teased.For once, Felix could not help but blush—he really did let his imagination run wild. He replied, "Fine. I can handle this game."Just then, his phone rang. It was Ryan, who had given him his contact info two days ago. "Felix, I'm driving over to pick you up now. Whatever important things you have planned, cancel them. The opportunity I mentioned is happening tonight."Felix frowned at the timing but agreed anyway. "Alright, come pick me up."After explainin
Solomon took a sip of his drink and laughed. "How could I possibly guess what the higher-ups are thinking? I just do what I'm told. Besides, isn't Dr. Hoffman's apprentice human too?" Ryan felt a chill at Solomon's words, considering Gerald's reputation was enough to make anyone think twice before making a move. He had known Solomon for a long time; Solomon's family was powerful, but the man was simply obsessed with martial arts.Solomon showed no interest in money or women. Instead, he would follow anyone who could make him stronger. While Ryan had never heard of the Elders' Council before, he knew they were definitely not a simple bunch of people. "Mr. Gill, do you think Dr. Hoffman's apprentice will agree?" Ryan asked uncertainly.Solomon shook his head. "How would I know what he's thinking when I've never met him? But since you've spoken so highly of him, I'll allow you to make an introduction. I must say, I admire anyone who would risk themselves to save those poor orphans.
"Excellent! You didn't disappoint me. Rest assured, I'll give it my all," Solomon declared.Seeing this, Ryan frantically backed away. Though he had decent martial arts talent and had reached the Martial King level, he knew how terrifying Solomon was and did not want to get caught in the crossfire between these two.Felix nodded and slowly raised his right hand. "After one strike, we'll see if you're worthy of making me show my true abilities."Solomon did not feel insulted; instead, he excitedly drew his sword. If anyone else had spoken like that, he would have struck them down immediately, but Felix was Gerald's apprentice—he had earned that confidence.The next moment, Felix launched a blow toward Solomon, sending a gust of wind surging across the mountaintop. The wind was so intense that an ordinary person would struggle to stand, let alone keep their eyes open.Ryan was unaffected and strained to watch, not wanting to miss a single detail. Suddenly, a blade's light flashed, s
George quickly jerked the phone away from his ear, frowning. "Mr. Gibson, are you trying to make me deaf?"Then, something suddenly clicked in his mind. "Wait, what were you saying about Felix?""Felix never lost his martial arts—did you know about this all along?" Ryan demanded.George was stunned, and his eyes turned cold. "Don't push it too far, Mr. Gibson. Felix's body was damaged after that heroic act, and you're still trying to cause trouble for him? He's not as simple as you think."Ryan froze for a moment before replying, "It seems like you knew his true identity and set me up on purpose. But forget it—it was my fault for getting involved. Everything's fine now, so let's talk when we meet."After the call ended, George's confusion only deepened. He wondered what Ryan was talking about. Just then, a voice broke the silence. "If your father's letting you handle such a big contract with me, he must be planning to hand over more responsibilities."George quickly stood up wi
"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