Both Ocean and Aiden were powerful and from influential families. After realizing that the Martial Arts Competition would take place, they privately won over the favor of a few young martial arts masters. They wanted to eliminate the useless martial artists during the competition and make them withdraw once they saw both of them. This was to save time. So, a while later, a muscular man approached Felix and crossed his arms. He said coldly, "Do you dare to fight with me? I don't think you're qualified to sit here."Hearing that, everyone looked over. They knew that something dramatic was about to happen. Fights were common in the banquet, so long as no one died in the process. However, Felix continued snoring. When they noticed that, a few people didn't know whether to laugh or cry. They wondered who Felix was and why he was sleeping there.As expected, the muscular man was infuriated. Just when he was about to attack, Ronan stopped him. "How can you disturb Felix's sleep? L
No one took this guy, who dared not show his face, seriously. Some people present were even laughing at him.However, when his intimidating presence blanketed the entire yard, their expressions shifted, and fear started growing in their hearts. "He's in the Boneforging Realm!" someone yelled in shock, fear finally consuming him. What did being in Boneforging Realm imply? This was a major realm after True Blood Realm. Few in the older generation of cultivators had reached this stage. This was a Realm that could only be reached by a martial artist who had progressed onto forging his bones after having purified every single drop of blood in his body. It was certain that he would be extremely powerful. Everyone present was still young. Even if they were gifted, there was no way they could battle against a powerful cultivator in Boneforging Realm. Aiden remained calm, though. He said with a laugh, "I think you've probably lived in some cave for too long, old man. We're in Yartfor
Just as Ocean's reassuring efforts started to work, Jack vomited blood. Not just him, but so did the regular citizens here, such as all the waiting staff in the yard. "Crap!" Felix stopped quickly. Only then did he remember that regular folks were also present. The martial artists could still resist the effects of the poison somewhat, but the ordinary citizens not versed in the martial arts didn't have a chance. Based on his brief resistance against the poison, he could confirm that an ordinary citizen would die within one minute. How could he watch his best friend die just like that?"Anyone with silver needles on hand? Take them out!"With a flick of Felix's hand, all his needles flew toward all directions. Even so, only half of the regular people present were rescued. The others collapsed onto the floor in agony. "Am I going to die, Felix?" Jack stared at his blood on the ground, his face frozen in disbelief."Shut up! As if I'd let you die!"Milo rushed over to ask Felix,
Felix had never felt so powerless before. The hope in everyone's eyes was an indescribably heavy mountain weighing on his shoulders. "You've done your best, Felix. So, don't put the blame on yourself." Jack smiled. He knew Felix better than everyone else. It wasn't that Felix didn't want to save everyone. It was that he couldn't.The masked man had risked his life to kill them. Felix would never believe that this wasn't related to the Martial Arts Competition.He had never expected to fall victim to this poison, too, not when he was already extremely powerful. From this, it was clear how valuable this poison was. The masked man must have been sure that this could kill all the young martial artists here. Suddenly, inspiration flashed in his mind. Felix fished out his phone and called Selmer. "Bring the alchemy furnace here as soon as possible!"Felix had brought with him to Yartford one of the two furnaces he owned for sudden emergencies. Little did he know it would really come i
The arrival of the best master healer in the country reignited Aiden's and everyone else's hope that they could survive this. Due to the magnitude of the situation, Lemuel didn't reminisce about the past with the other healers present. He picked a random person and started taking his pulse. After one minute, he stood up. "Can an antidote be made, Mr. Morris?" asked Hector, who felt a headache coming on. If this situation wasn't dealt with well, devastating consequences were sure to come. If these people had really died, the headquarters would certainly be blamed, as they were the organizer of the Martial Arts Competition. Who would want to shoulder the blame when the time came?"This is the Blightbane Poison. I read about it in a medical book once. It was concocted by a highly skilled practitioner of medicine from the last dynasty. According to the book, even the inventor himself has not formulated an antidote for it."What? A poison from the previous dynasty? "And this is wh
Felix's guess had been correct. Where did the pill recorded in the medical book that Gerald gave him come from? It was the most basic antidote pill. Yet, it was enough to counteract the Blightbane Poison that had everyone at their wit's end. It was unbelievable."Can you come over, Mr. Hoffman? We can hold out for 24 hours," Felix asked just in case. It would make things easier if Gerald could come."You damn brat! Are you sure you're my student? First of all, I can't make it back in 24 hours. Secondly, even if I could, why should I? Whether those people live or die has nothing to do with me. Goodbye!"Felix smiled bitterly. He had forgotten how Gerald had long since been disillusioned by humanity's greed. To him, saving lives and healing the wounded was nothing but drivel.As soon as he stepped outside, he noticed that all eyes were on him. It was plain to see that he remained everyone's greatest hope."It should work, but I can't guarantee it. I'll just have to do my best."The
"I know you have something that can counteract this poison, Nala. Name your price," Aiden's voice suddenly rang out, prompting Nala to sneer."Then, would you be willing to die for it?"After a brief silence, Aiden's tone grew much colder. "So, you intend to tie yourself to Felix. It's true that I can't touch you. But that doesn't mean Felix is off limits."Nala glanced over at Aiden, who was sitting cross-legged a distance away, and responded, "You and Felix are both prodigies, but do you know what sets the two of you apart? "One of you can set aside your hatred to fight with everything you have to save lives, while the other is still talking about killing. That reason alone is why you'll never measure up to him!"Time kept passing on, and the tension continued to escalate. They waited from nightfall till dawn. Now with the sun setting again, everyone began to panic."Mr. Morris, there's only one hour left. What do we do now?"Silas looked at the nearly exhausted Lemuel and gr
Not far from the courtyard, Mira smiled softly as she pulled out her phone."Is the result out?""Yes, Mr. Hoffman. Felix succeeded.""Wait. What?" Gerald was quite shocked."That's impossible! His pill-forming rate is far too low. It's only been 11 or 12 hours. How could he have crafted over 60 antidote pills? Even if they're just the most basic kind."Mira resigned as she sighed. "Mr. Hoffman, he's your apprentice. If you don't have confidence in him, shouldn't you at least trust your own judgment?"Gerald chuckled. "It seems you all know how to butter up an old man like me. Much better at it than Felix—his social skills are practically nonexistent, but it looks like he really does have a talent for pill cultivation, after all. I've never been wrong about my judgment. "Alright. I'm hanging up now."Glancing at the courtyard ahead, Mira patted the small bag she was carrying.Gerald always loved to act tough, but the fact that he sent her rushing here overnight said it all.
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