CHAPTER 72: THE FIRST FIGHT OF AMBER AFTER ASCENSION

While Leon was making potions in a peaceful atmosphere inside the hall, the atmosphere outside was entirely opposite. Even the calming fragrance from the incense stick couldn’t ease the tension weighing heavily on everyone.

It was all because Amber was standing right before the hall with a scowl on her face. It looked as if she would devour anyone who dared to even glance at the hall.

And as everyone had guessed, her bad mood was related to Wei Xiao. How could she not be furious at the man who belonged to the family that had made her Angel suffer?

Yes, Evelyn had already ascended to the status of an Angel in her heart.

Not to mention, because of this damned family, her student had grown up without a father. She couldn’t even bring herself to give a damn about being polite with them.

But even with her rage, she still didn’t act.

It wasn’t her place to meddle in their affairs, especially since even Leon himself wasn’t saying anything. His nonchalant attitude towards this entire situation was probably another factor that fueled her annoyance.

"She’s more unreasonable than usual," Akash sighed.

"Is she?" Wei Xiao asked doubtfully.

"Yes. I’ve spent the last five years with her in the Academy, and I’ve come to understand her a little." Akash nodded slowly. "She’s really protective of Leon for some reason, and you just happened to come today. I don’t think I need to tell you why she’s so annoyed."

"Annoyed? I think she’s flat-out pissed at him," Alena remarked from the side.

"If she was pissed at him, then he wouldn’t be standing in one piece here," Akash shrugged. "You’d be surprised by her lack of hesitation when it comes to dangerous matters."

Meanwhile, Minji was trying to make her presence as small as possible. She didn’t even dare join in the conversation.

On the other hand, Wei Xiao stepped forward and asked Amber, "I’m curious about something."

"Then, go and jump off the roof. I heard death gives you answers to everything," Amber snapped back instantly.

While others were left speechless by her words, Wei Xiao didn’t seem to mind as he continued, "If he really succeeds in making that potion, then his potential in our field is limitless. I’ve seen some of the theories he applied for the potion, and they’re very remarkable."

"While I’m very happy that you’re praising my dear student so much, can you come to the point?" Amber asked, suppressing the hint of a smile.

"He has a great future in our field, and I can already see that he’ll become a brilliant researcher. I can even take him as my personal student," Wei Xiao said calmly, but his words immediately turned the air colder.

Akash facepalmed and quietly moved away, as he already knew what would happen next. He just couldn’t understand why Wei Xiao would say something so controversial at such a time.

As expected, Amber’s face darkened and her gaze turned frost-chilly, "You’re really daring, aren’t you? I do have some respect for your family because of their contribution to humanity, but don’t make me forget it. I’m warning you, my student is off-limits."

Wei Xiao shivered under the threat, or perhaps due to the sudden change in the room’s temperature. But he still couldn’t let go of the thought of such a talent going to waste, so he tried to persuade her.

"Try to understand. He’s a man, and that alone places him in much greater danger. Why do you want to ruin such a rare talent?"

"I didn’t choose this path for him. It was he who came to me and showed his determination and resolve to walk down this road. And as his teacher, it’s my responsibility to guide him."

"But he’s just a Grade 4 Talent..."

That was all he managed to say before a powerful aura erupted, striking him and throwing him off his feet, slamming him into the wall. The impact cracked the reinforced surface as sparks of lightning flickered from the collision.

Elodie reacted instantly, moving in front of the others and shielding them from the blazing aura that was still leaking into the surroundings. Even she couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat at the thought of facing it directly.

’Ridiculous! I’m just feeling the side-effects of her aura, yet I already feel defeated. What would happen if I were to face it head-on? Or worse... in an actual fight?’

Although she already knew the powers of the Ascended, only now did she realize just how insignificant others were before them.

An Ascended could face tens of Tier 10 head-on and still come out victorious. This was the kind of might that Ascension bestowed upon humans.

Elodie also knew that if it wasn’t for the reinforced walls of this facility, the entire building would have already been reduced to rubble from the aura alone.

The man suffering the brunt of that aura wasn’t faring any better. He was down on his knees and couldn’t even lift his head. It was as if an entire mountain had been dropped onto his back, pressing him down with all its crushing weight.

"Who gave you the guts to actually dare investigate my student’s background?" Amber’s cold voice sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

Previously, it had been Leon’s family matter, so she hadn’t interfered even though she had wanted to. But this was different. This time it was her student, and someone had actually dared to dig into his background. How could she possibly take it lightly?

Her students were her everything—they were her reverse scale. And Leon had become an exception even among them.

"Do you really think I’d be scared of your little Wei Clan? Didn’t anyone in your clan ever warn you not to touch my bottom line?" Amber took a slow step forward, increasing the pressure on Wei Xiao even further.

"How many Ascended can your whole Wei Clan muster? Five? Ten? Heh, maybe twenty? I’d say that’s your absolute limit, huh."

Wei Xiao coughed up blood as his body slammed against the floor. His consciousness hung by a thin thread, and he couldn’t even force words past his lips. But if he could, he would have retorted.

What twenty Ascended? Since when did Ascended grow like cabbages in a field? How could anyone gather so many of them? Even a big clan like the Wei Clan wouldn’t be able to assemble such a force.

"Then let me tell you something interesting," Amber crouched beside him, her eyes glinting. "The first thing I did after ascending to Tier 11 was fight thirty-two Tier 11 Abyssal Creatures in the God’s Valley. And guess the outcome? I won!"

Even in his battered state, Wei Xiao’s body trembled at her words. For a moment, he refused to believe such insane claims. But Amber had no reason to lie. She never did.

Besides, everyone already knew about the Mad Flame Empress and the fact that she had never once lost a one-on-one battle against any opponent of her generation.

"I won’t kill you because your family has contributed much to humanity. But pull another stunt like this, and I swear to the dead Gods I’ll reduce the entire Wei Clan to ashes."

Her threat was clear, bold, and terrifying. Wei Clan was still one of the most important families of humanity, but anyone who knew Amber understood that she had both the capability and the resolve to do exactly what she threatened.

Especially if it was for her students.

The pressure lessened at last, and a weak groan escaped Wei Xiao’s mouth. "T-Thank you!"

"I said I won’t kill you," Amber replied coldly, "but I never said you’d escape unscathed."

"That’s more than enough, don’t you think, Child?"

As the aged voice resounded from all sides, the suffocating pressure vanished completely, leaving only a deep scowl on Amber’s face.