The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

There was a smartphone inside the box. Although phones were not unusual in Martial City, this one stood out.

It was a high-end model from a major city, easily distinguishable by its oversized screen. What made Felix's expression darken was not the phone itself but the ominous feeling creeping over him.

After hesitating for a while, he carefully picked it up, his hands trembling slightly. He did not unlock it right away but instead flipped it over. The moment he saw the back, his jaw clenched tight.

The phone was encased in a transparent plastic cover, and underneath it was a perfectly sized photo of Melissa-his sworn sister. He did not need to power it on to know it was hers.

Felix had spent enough time with her to recognize her phone instantly, especially since she never changed that photo, no matter what phone she used. With that, he finally unlocked the phone, which still had over 40% battery.

He entered the familiar password and gained access without issue. A few minutes later, his face grew even grimmer. He wondered aloud, "How did Melissa's phone end up here? And why would someone send it to me?"

If the phone was here, it meant Melissa was in Martial City. Yet, that was impossible, given how difficult it was to enter the city. According to Xena, the special entry pass that could bypass the protective barrier was strictly controlled by the central authority.

Even powerful clans and sects barely knew Martial City existed, let alone had access to it. There was no way Melissa could have made it inside.

Yet, the phone was undeniable proof. It was real-terrifyingly real. Just then, Felix noticed a piece of paper hidden under the phone. He pulled it out and read it.

"Felix, Melissa is in my hands. If you want her to live, come to the designated location by sunset. Otherwise, you'll be collecting her corpse. And don't bring anyone. If I see you with any help, the result will be the same."

The note sent chills down his spine. Whoever sent the box knew his name and Melissa's, and they had her phone. There was no room for doubt now.

His mind raced. Melissa was supposed to be traveling the world with Ronan. He was puzzled and wondered how she ended up here. It made no sense, but he did not have time to ponder it since her life was at stake.

He tried to contact Deborah but

quickly found that her phone was off. She had warned him before leaving that she and Shepherd would be unreachable during the

trip

to harvest Solaris Root, as it was too dangerous for any distractions.

Felix clenched his fists in frustration. Even if he could somehow reach them, involving a powerful figure like Shepherd might endanger Melissa.

If their opponent was also at the major mastery level of Transcendent Realm, they

would easily detect Shepherd's presence, and Melissa's chances of survival would plummet.noveldrama

"Damn it!" Felix muttered under his breath.

He had not been in Martial City for long, yet those closest to him were already being dragged into

dangerous plots. His enemy knowet

everything about him and had even managed to smuggle someone into this impenetrable city.

He glanced at the clock, noticing that he had five hours until sunset. The location

in the note was two hours away, giving him some time, but not much.

He needed a plan-one that would catch his enemy off guard without alerting them to any backup. Then again, who could he trust with something like this?

After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Felix left Harmony Clinic. He had no choice but to handle this alone.

Thankfully, he had reached the early stage of Transcendent Realm. Without that, he would have had zero chance.

The meeting point was filled with jagged boulders and towering rock formations...The stones rose over 30 feet in some areas. Felix had never seen terrain like this since arriving in Martial City, and the oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on him.