The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

As they lunged at him, Felix pulled out his harmonica and began to play.

When he first saw the waiter, he suspected the waiter was one of the wraiths Billy had mentioned. Normal martial arts wouldn't work against them, so the harmonica was his best option.

But to Felix's surprise, the harmonica's sound only briefly slowed these creatures before they resumed their attack. They were neither human nor ghost.

Just as he was about to retreat and burn the memorial coins, a white flash exploded through the tavern, followed by waves of agonized screams.

"Lumen?"

Felix froze in amazement. The mysterious dagger he had absorbed into his soul in Echo Cavern, which he'd never managed to control, was now protecting him automatically.

Its power was incredible. While the harmonica couldn't hold them back for moments, Lumen cleared the entire tavern in less than a breath.

When Lumen returned to his soul, Felix felt a pull. He left the tavern and immediately drew in a sharp breath. The previously empty street now teemed with creatures like the waiter, with appearances enough to fuel three days of nightmares.

Some held their own heads, others dragged intestines along the ground, and some had bloody maws splitting their faces. Each was more grotesque and fearsome than the last.

When they did not move, Felix took a step forward. To his surprise, they scattered instantly, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"They must fear Lumen. Ophelia, is this why you said I had to enter the Three Forbidden Lands in the right order?"

Felix shuddered. These wraiths were overwhelming-even the harmonica and memorial coins together might not have saved him. Without first acquiring Lumen in Echo Cavern, he likely would have met his end here.

Without hesitation, he followed the calling. After what felt like an hour, he came

upon a ruined hall. Half the building had collapsed into rubble.

"It's in there."

Entering, Felix's gaze immediately fixed on an object held by an unidentifiable statue. It appeared to be a book with flesh-colored covers, thick with dust. After checking for danger, he jumped to grab ito

Before his right hand could touch it, a gray light shot out toward him. Fortunately, Lumen appeared and dispelled the light in an instant. Felix seized the book right then.

"That's a close call. Without Lumen, I'd have died countless times already."

Opening it revealed only yellowed blank pages.

"What's going on?" Felix was baffled. No matter what he tried, the pages remained blank. "This can't be right! It called to me, so there must be more."

After pondering a while, he sat cross-legged. Holding the book in his right hand, he opened a page with his left, then closed his eyes.

Since the Three Forbidden Lands seemed connected to the soul, perhaps physical sight wasn't enough. He needed to read with his soul. Though Felix knew little about soul manipulation, he could only calm his mind and keep trying. noveldrama

When he closed his eyes, text appeared on the first page. "The Phaeron Codex."

Still with eyes closed, Felix's trembling hand turned another page. How could he

not be excited? This could be a manual for soul cultivation. This was just like discovering a new world.