The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

"Stop overthinking. Are you hungry? Let me cook for you," said Ophelia.

Felix nodded. He was more than just hungry. After months of surviving on fasting pills, he hadn't had a real meal in ages. His craving for food had only intensified.

Half an hour later, Felix was devouring the meal ravenously while Ophelia watched him with a beaming smile.

"By the way, Ophelia, why are you in a place like Ghosttown?" he asked between bites.

He wasn't worried about her safety. After all, her strength was indisputable. To be honest, even though he had reached the Transcendent Realm, he still couldn't gauge the true level of his fellow apprentices' abilities. Each had mastered different skills, making it even harder to deduce.

"I like it here," Ophelia replied with a grin. "I've killed plenty of scum, and now my reputation keeps most trouble away. Life here is peaceful and free, unlike the city. It's too complicated there."

Fair enough. The city was full of tangled power struggles where "killing to stop killing" wasn't an option.

"So, why did you come to Ghosttown?" she asked.

Felix saw no need to hide the truth from her. "Because of the Dragonspine. I discovered the final piece here in Martial City. It's with someone called the Skeletal Demon, who shows up in Ghosttown every full moon."

Ophelia's smile widened. "Tomorrow's the full moon, isn't it? Don't worry. Leave it to me. I'll handle it for you."

After finishing his meal, Felix fell into a deep sleep.

Ophelia sat beside him, gazing at his face with a soft, tender expression.

"The burden Mr. Hoffman placed on you is too much. Even though we know it's unfair, we dare not defy him. For now, let's just let you rest peacefully," she murmured.

Felix woke up at an unknown hour, feeling completely refreshed. His body and mind were brimming with energy as he stretched lazily.

"You're awake?"

Upon hearing Ophelia's voice, Felix turned his head, ready to respond. However, he froze in shock.

There wasn't just Ophelia in the room. Another man was kneeling on the floor, trembling with fear and a pale face.

Felix recognized him instantly.

"The Skeletal Demon?"

Indeed, the man kneeling before him was the Skeletal Demon himself.

"You should've told me earlier you were connected to the Demoness, sir! I wouldn't have dared to fight you!" the Skeletal Demon wailed, clearly terrified.

He had only just stepped into

Ghosttown when Ophelia had

captured him. Though her reputation might not be widely known

over

elsewhere, in Ghosttown, hername carried unparalleled weight.

Her legendary battle had sealed her status. She had taken on two peak Transcendent Realm warriors alone and emerged unscathed after killing them both. She was practically the queen of Ghosttown, and no one dared provoke her. Never had he imagined that Felix had ties tonoveldrama

someone like her.

"Felix," Ophelia said, her tone calm but serious, "I have some bad news. You've

probably noticed already, haven't you?"

Felix froze for a moment, then his expression changed.

"I can't sense the Dragonspine!"

Ophelia nodded. "That's right. This guy just confessed. Three days ago, he gave

the Dragonspine to someone else."

"Who?" Felix demanded, his

frustration evident. He had been so

certain he'd secure the last piece

and finally be able to focus on cultivating pills. Now, his plans were thrown into chaos.

"Speak! Who did you give it to?"

The Skeletal Demon trembled under Ophelia's cold gaze, too terrified to lie. He stammered, "K-Kevin Beasley."