Chapter 658: The Enemies to Face
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 658: The Enemies to Face
Under the arrangement of the Intelligence Group, it didn't take long for me to meet with Teaching Assistant Fu Xinglan.
We met at a property owned by her club in Ninglan New City.
To my surprise, Tracy was there as well.
The fact that they had specifically arranged for two people I was familiar with—and who had become teaching assistants in the same batch as me—to meet me, using the business card I had given out as a token, made me take this meeting a few degrees more seriously.
This was likely a show of goodwill, or perhaps they wanted people I could actually talk to to handle the conversation, suggesting that the upcoming topic might be long and tedious.
Regardless, many things only become clear once you actually start talking.
"It’s been a while, you two. You both look quite exhausted."
Upon seeing them, I instinctively sensed a flicker of unnaturalness. My Heart Sense made it very clear what state they were in; they couldn't hide their inner feelings from themselves, so naturally, they couldn't hide them from my perception.
"Indeed... a lot has happened since we last met. In the end, we can't be as carefree as you, Xiao Han," Fu Xinglan said, following my lead to play the pity card.
While the "misery" was an act, the unnaturalness I sensed the moment we met was real. The chasm in their internal identities made them realize they were no longer on the same level as me, even if, objectively, our statuses were the same.
"Your attitude toward the world is truly enviable, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han. Unfortunately, it's something we couldn't learn even if we tried."
"How could you not learn it? Before ascending to the Transcendent level, we all stand on the same ground. If you just let go of everything weighing you down, you'll be light as a feather," I said, stepping forward to test the waters.
Of course, I knew they wouldn't actually do it, even if they thought about it.
I then naturally took the seat they had prepared for me. The room had clearly been staged; there were only three seats in total, meaning only the three of us would be present for the serious discussion.
"Black coffee, please," I said to the waiter nearby, then turned my gaze toward the main party.
"In the entire Witch Academy, you're probably the only one who could say something like that so recklessly, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han."
"Of course. That is my freedom," I replied. The waiter poured me a cup of black coffee with high efficiency; they likely knew my preferences in advance.
Coffee isn't particularly popular at the Witch Academy. Specially prepared sweet versions are somewhat acceptable, but black coffee is an exception.
This was because black coffee was often associated with pulling all-nighters, studying, and working. Witches certainly have an extensive nightlife, but I’d never seen them rely on coffee for it; they relied on romantic sparks between girls.
After pouring the coffee, the sole waiter left the room, leaving only me and the two across from me.
Once the door closed, an Isolation Spell enveloped the room. An Isolation Spell is a higher-grade existence than a simple Soundproofing Spell; it doesn't just block sound and visuals, but also various magical detections. Theoretically, with additional measures, it could even block Ley Line Information, but they clearly didn't have those means.
"We know—freedom. But for us, the price of such freedom is too high." Fu Xinglan dropped her casual demeanor. The stage was set, and with no fourth person present, they intended to stop wasting time on small talk.
"And such freedom might also come at a price for you, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han," Tracy added.
"For me too? What is it?" Seeing they were serious, I went straight to the point. I understood that freedom required a price for them, but I didn't quite get why it would for me. Did I have a price to pay?
Did I?
"Jealousy."
"Oh, that does seem to be the case. But... are you sure it's not just incompetent rage?"
"And apprehension."
"The desire to eliminate me to feel at ease—but they’d need the means to do it first."
I commented on each of the reasons they presented.
"So, could you please be a bit clearer? You know my comprehension isn't great. If I misunderstand your point and it leads to an unpleasant situation, no one will be happy," I said bluntly, then took a sip of my coffee.
To my surprise, this coffee was a variety I had never tasted before. I am a Five Senses Body Cultivator; my senses of taste and smell cannot be wrong. The coffee beans in the Main World are generally of one type, differing only in processing methods, but the raw material for this was different.
Perhaps it was a new species from an Expansion Realm...
"Of course. I didn't invite you here today to play the role of a riddler," Fu Xinglan said. "Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, are you aware of the current relationship between the societal Families and the Transcendent Academies?"
"I've looked into it a bit. I used Ley Line Identification Art, so my knowledge is fairly detailed," I said directly.
"Since you know that, you should also know the predicament the Families are currently facing, right?"
"Being dragged into a quagmire by the Players? I've been planting trees in the Expansion Realm lately, so I don't know much, but I don't think Players can cause that much harm."
"It seems you really don't know that much. The Families have indeed been dragged into a bottomless pit by the Players, but not in the way you expect. Furthermore... the Players are not as harmless as you think. But since we've brought up the topic, I wonder if we could seek an answer to a question from you?"
"Ask first," I said, giving no firm commitment.
"Are those Players related to the Witch Academy? What we want to know is... did the Witch Academy personally introduce those Players to the Main World?"
"That question seems meaningless for you now. Once suspicion arises, the verdict is already reached."
"Is that a tacit admission? As expected, you know many things we don't."
"Well~ isn't it a bit against the rules to force an answer like that? All I can say is that it's the behavior of individual witches. Don't escalate it to the Academy as a whole."
"I see... though, to use your words, arguing over whether it's individuals or the Academy seems meaningless now."
"I suppose so. But now that this question is over, let's get back to the main topic," I said. After all, they had just baited some intel out of me; these people were definitely more silver-tongued than I was. "How about we talk about the trouble my freedom is bringing me?"
"Very well. Your freedom, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, really grates on the nerves of those in the Families."
"After all, you are a singular exception, while the outside world is a united collective. A collective either assimilates the individual or destroys them."
"The way you say that... aren't you a member of a Family? Have I grated on your nerves too?"
"I suppose so... but we see things more clearly, so we only dare to be envious. Only those who don't know their own weight would feel jealousy, or even hatred."
"So, how do the Families plan to target me?" I asked, taking another sip of coffee.
"Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, do you really think it's only the Families targeting you? Our Families aren't fools, especially the factions inclined toward the Witch Academy."
"Who else? The Players?" I asked with interest.
"Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, it seems you completely fail to understand your own value and your own capabilities. Similarly, I can see that you are someone who pursues higher heights without any regard for the implications of those 'useless things' you possess," Fu Xinglan said.
Even Tracy, beside her, looked solemn.
"Perhaps the enemies you face are at a level higher than you anticipated."
With that hint, I quickly realized what they meant.
Rebel Witches.
Or rather, Betrayer Rebel Witches?
In short, those of our kind who don't want the Witch race to prosper... no, they probably aren't even "our kind" anymore.
The Betrayers had seemingly been struck from the records by the Primal Witches.
So... with their reminder, I understood instantly!
What was the lower limit for a Rebel Witch?
A Transcendent Witch!
And what else was on the same level as a Transcendent?
Transcendent beings—those who had ascended to the Transcendent level, not limited to Rebel Witches.
Perhaps Transcendent Elves, Transcendent Holy Angels, or Transcendent Wizards?
I had always ignored the Void framework outside the Main World, and I had ignored the fact that the Main World didn't just have the Witch Academy!
As expected, after coming to the Witch Academy, even I had unconsciously developed such an arrogant temperament. No matter how inconspicuous those other academies seemed, their mentors were existences on the same level as Transcendent Witches!
"The Transcendent Academies... want to deal with me? But would they dare... oh, wait, don't speak yet. Let me process this myself." I gestured for them to wait.
After sorting out the relationships, I quickly understood the key point.
I had stayed in the Witch Academy for too long in comfort, to the point where I had almost forgotten my previous thoughts.
I remembered asking Teacher Ji Niang whether power or knowledge was more important in the Void. The essence of that question was whether the Void was a place of reason or a place of brute force.
Clearly, much evidence pointed to the fact that this was a Void where power spoke and reason was absent. Only under an absolute order of power could reason exist.
And my current potential was terrifying.
Floating World Level Spirit Vision allowed me, a non-Transcendent lifeform, to grasp a corner of Real Time that even Transcendents couldn't touch. This was a blessing from the Main World.
Two Great Spellbooks were my foundation.
Self-Awakened Body Cultivation, domains, and comprehension were my potential.
The skills I had mastered, and the Great Knowledge Sharing Spell that I hadn't fully prioritized—these were my capabilities.
Even infrastructure like the Omni-Link Main Network Tree was an order built upon my domain.
The Transcendent Academies in the Main World weren't just schools; they were extensions of the will of other Transcendent races in the Void, functioning more like outposts.
So... those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts.
Strangling a genius in the cradle wasn't a hard concept to grasp; it was just that the place I lived was too peaceful, so I hadn't thought that far... My reliance on the Witch Academy was so complete in this regard that I appeared naive when considering these issues.
So, my previous worries were necessary. Maintaining vigilance was necessary.
But how long had it been since I enrolled?
I thought I wouldn't have to worry about this for several years. Who knew it would come so quickly?
I took a deep breath, sipped my coffee to calm down, and then looked at the two women waiting quietly.
"Is it a Transcendent from a Transcendent Academy who wants to deal with me? One of the Three Top Academies?"
Hearing my words, the two were somewhat shocked. They hadn't expected me to set my sights so high immediately, but... in a sense, I wasn't wrong.
"It seems that once you seriously examine yourself, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, you give yourself quite a high evaluation. It appears our understanding of you was still too shallow."
"Let's just speak plainly," Fu Xinglan said, deciding not to beat around the bush anymore.
"Please, I'm listening," I said expectantly.
It seemed I might have guessed too high?
But thinking that way wasn't wrong. After all, if anyone touched me in the Main World... there would be hell to pay.
I had the Resurrection Spell, and my soul had the blessing of the Soul Dream, which served as a Soul Dwelling. Even if my body died, my soul could hide in the Soul Dream and wait until it was safe to self-resurrect. Even if I couldn't self-resurrect, the Dean could help, since she possessed the Incubation Rebirth Spell.
Unless the opponent could cut down both my body and soul at a speed I couldn't react to—but was that possible?
I also had the Body Cultivation Seventh Sense, Time Sense. This was a body cultivation instinct; if compared to spells, it was like a passive skill.
"The ones who want to deal with you this time are those Players."
"Oh, that's not much of a surprise. They're coming for me, and I was thinking of going for them too."
"I know those Players don't pose much of a threat to you. After all, the fact that you could extinguish their trump cards with a single strike says a lot. However... those Players are planning to join forces with the Families to plot your assassination. And they've stated... that you must die."
"You sound as if you were personally present."
"Yes. At least, a senior teaching assistant from my family was present at the time."
"Now that's interesting. If you were present, it means they invited you, right? And you turned around and sold them out?" I asked, unable to suppress a smile.
"After all, we know what we would face if we actually killed you. We aren't fools."
"But not everyone is as smart?" I asked tentatively.
"Correct. Do you need me to—"
"No need. I can't be bothered to know who they are. But if it's just this, it's still just child's play, isn't it?"
"It seems you are truly confident in your own strength, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han... but we didn't deny the hypothesis you proposed earlier," Fu Xinglan said with a heavy expression.
"So... those Players have the Transcendent Academies pushing them from behind, and they might even deliver a fatal blow at a critical moment?"
"Based on our analysis, that is the case."
"Then I have another question. How did those Players get hooked up with the Transcendent Academies?" I continued.
"We don't know. Because our stance is with the Witch Academy, we aren't privy to that."
"Fair enough..." I sighed and didn't press further. It didn't matter anymore, did it?
"Aren't you afraid of being isolated for telling me such important information?"
"Of course we are. Or rather... we've already been isolated."
"And yet you still did it... likely because you saw that doing so would maximize your benefits. What do you want from me?"
"A favor. A favor that is absolutely within your power."
"A favor? Are you sure you want to quantify it like that?" After all, without mentioning a specific favor, the goodwill brought by their actions would be enough to gain continuous benefits from me. Quantifying it as a specific favor meant there would be no more sentiment involved.
"Yes... we need a guarantee. An absolute favor that can be used as a trump card."
"Hedging your bets?" I chuckled.
According to my Heart Sense, I knew their thoughts were sincere, but I wouldn't just blindly believe them.
"No... it's the preservation of a spark after an ideological split. Please be careful; when the time comes, there will also be Families inclined toward the Witch Academy who will move against you. But they won't act directly, nor will they leave evidence."
"Witches don't need evidence or reasons to clear away annoying flies," I said with a smile.
"Exactly. Because we understand that and they don't, we are gathered here. And we don't just represent the two of us, but an entire united collective."
"Very well. I will prove that your vision was correct."
"We shall wait and see."
"Oh, right, I wanted to ask one more thing. Where is this coffee from?"
"The coffee? Oh, we bought it from a merchant who recently arrived in Ninglan New City. Let me give you one more piece of friendly intel... that person is a merchant from outside our world."
"Interesting. From outside the world?"