Chapter 975: The Rebel Witch Confronts the Academy Dean
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 975: The Rebel Witch Confronts the Academy Dean
At this moment, even Sheryl, who had been lounging in Mei’s office chair, could no longer sit still. She stood up and paced forward.
What had she just heard?
Precious transcendent materials that could be mass-produced, and… a World Tree seed from the Forest Elves?
While it was true that the Void never lacked transcendent materials, the issues of plundering, transporting, and regenerating them were massive hurdles. Each step was often as costly as the value of the top-tier materials themselves. Consequently, the use of materials across the Void was essentially limited to "sourcing locally."
If this Hexagonal Crystal Amber truly could be mass-produced using the Great Glacial Throne Technique, then the Main World would have its starting resources secured for development after the "Unification." Moreover, these were resources that wouldn't become obsolete from the initial stages all the way to late-stage prosperity—they were a foundation for a legacy!
It was hard to imagine just how wealthy a witch who mastered such a preparation technique would become...
If the value of the Hexagonal Crystal Amber sparked infinite fantasies, the World Tree seed was even more extraordinary!
Even if the seed likely belonged to a non-transcendent elven race, its value was still immense. This was a seed that could only potentially be born after the destruction of an elven world! And the circumstances had to be extremely specific.
For instance, if a powerful witch like her were to crush and destroy a small elven world, the World Will merged within the World Tree would judge the enemy as invincible. It would then sever all hope and cease gestating seeds to prevent its descendants from becoming slaves to the invaders. Only when a world shattered while still harboring a sliver of hope, and with sufficient time to gestate, could a seed be produced.
Furthermore... not every seed could successfully grow into a new World Tree.
With Sheryl’s experience, she had naturally seen World Tree seeds before. She had even seen eccentric entities who used a World Tree seed as a core to establish a Witch Academy right in the middle of the Void. That was an academy dedicated to nurturing elf-lineage witches. It was the kind of thing other witches could only envy from afar, though such academies had to keep a low profile around elves.
After all, if the elves found out, they would go absolutely berserk! No matter the cost, even if it meant only destroying that World Tree, they would ignite a war just to ensure the elven bloodline remained unsullied. Of course, they only acted this crazy when they were confident; otherwise, it was just a suicide mission.
The witch race was one of the few transcendent races in the Void that dared to openly discuss the concept of an Elven Witch Academy. As could be seen from the nearly ubiquitous elven-system spellbooks possessed by witches, they had the confidence to go head-to-head with the elves.
Sheryl hadn't expected that a mere medium-sized world—one just about to transition into a large world with some basic world community foundations—would be so lucrative.
Then again, she had to thank those transcendent races for spreading the word and attracting those below the transcendent level to enter and stir the pot. They knew full well the game world belonged to the witches, yet they still sent people over with such precious "gifts." Perhaps even they didn't realize these fellows were carrying such treasures.
Thinking about how she was the one who "instigated" Xiao Han to go to the game world, Sheryl felt a surge of joy. Hadn't this allowed Xiao Han to pick up some amazing things?
However, she truly hadn't expected that characters worthy of being called geniuses would be handled so easily by Xiao Han’s clone. She attributed this to the prototype domain Xiao Han mastered. Even if it was just a prototype, that was a power only reachable at the transcendent Saint Realm!
Transcendence was the foundation of the Saint Realm. After all, only by ascending to transcendence and perceiving the truth of time could one "sense" the concept of order. That Xiao Han could master a prototype domain so easily was likely related to the unique Heart Sense and state of mind of a body cultivator, and even more so to her Floating World level Spirit Vision.
As for the help from the Great Spellbook? A Great Spellbook would actually make it harder to generate a domain than a regular spellbook. The rumors in the academy that the Great Spellbook was the reason Xiao Han mastered such power were merely the self-consolation of the ignorant.
Initially, Sheryl thought these rumors were just for fun among the students, but she hadn't expected that even some transcendent witches who hadn't reached the Saint Realm would use them as a comforting joke. But it didn't matter, as long as they didn't affect Xiao Han.
At this point, Dean Mei’s clone had risen from the sofa opposite me, walked over, and sat down beside me. I stubbornly shifted my body, putting a little distance between myself and Dean Mei.
What a joke—I’m a little witch with a girlfriend! Even if this was just my clone and the Dean’s clone, it still wasn't okay.
"Xiao Han... are you sure you want to go about it this way? The Glacial Throne Secret Realm can be brought to the academy without any damage. If you want to bait a transcendent to act, there’s no need for such risky methods."
Dean Mei’s tone softened. As the Academy Dean, she could see the terrifying value of Hexagonal Crystal Amber with such labels better than Sheryl could. Whether the Glacial Throne Secret Realm was damaged didn't matter; that Ancient Remnant Ice and the Great Glacial Throne Technique were the keys!
Initially, no one had taken this shattered Great Spellbook seriously; otherwise, its fragments wouldn't have remained scattered for so long without anyone touching them. But now, its value had changed...
Great Glacial Throne Technique + Hexagonal Crystal Amber + Xiao Han = Qualitative Change!
This was like a grand synthesis of occult materials that had finally hit the jackpot.
"The Dean hopes for a more stable approach, right?" Hearing her advise me repeatedly, I naturally understood her thoughts. She didn't want to take risks.
"Are the only things you see the tangible benefits?" As Dean Mei waited for my answer, Sheryl spoke up again from the side. "Protecting Xiao Han too well won't do. A witch lacking bloodlust won't go far. Mei Lind... to you, is this Hexagonal Crystal Amber more important, or is Xiao Han?"
This time, Sheryl used Dean Mei’s full name, signifying she wasn't joking or playing around.
"Naturally, Xiao Han is more important. Why? Do you have an objection?" Dean Mei stood up. Simultaneously, her main body was ready to tear through space and confront this Rebel Witch directly.
"Really? From your actions and words just now, I only see that you think the Hexagonal Crystal Amber is important. Because once Xiao Han is dead, you’ll have nothing."
"Don't twist the logic! The Hexagonal Crystal Amber is important, but Xiao Han is more important! I’m trying to find a way to have both. Is it wrong to want to avoid risk?"
"Then... who! Who gave you the right to strip Xiao Han of her right to adventure! Since you value her and have the power to protect her, what right do you have to stifle her path! Is it laziness? Or is it your uninspired heart that thinks Xiao Han would enjoy your idle, sluggish lifestyle? To be pampered and enjoy comfort for a lifetime?"
Sheryl’s words were like a blade, dissecting Mei’s actions layer by layer.
You, Mei Lind, claim to be doing this for Xiao Han’s own good? Then why are you grinding away her edges? You think highly of her? Then since you have the power, why don't you create an environment where she can fully display her talents?
Constantly comforting yourself with those lame excuses, granting her a palm-sized freedom by crushing her genius pride.
The more a genius is allowed to be let go, the more of the world they can see. Sheryl was fuming at the thought that Xiao Han could crush geniuses from outside the Void even with just a clone, yet such a genius was being confined by Mei Lind to a broken, tiny Main World!
A genius like Xiao Han should have been roaming the Void long ago, leaving behind a proud reputation, being wanted and suppressed by other races... that is what a complete path to rising looks like. Finally, she would ascend to transcendence, enter the Saint Realm in one leap, hold a coming-of-age ceremony in her name... gathering the geniuses of the Void to be her stepping stones as she claimed the title of Chief of the Heavenly Chosen. With such achievements and her actions... she could even take a shot at becoming a Truth Witch.
But look at what this witch before her was doing! She was worrying about Xiao Han’s safety to the point of not even letting her personally participate in an opportunity to provoke a transcendent!
"This time... we go with Xiao Han’s own ideas! What you don't dare to do, I will! If something goes wrong, I’ll take the fall!"
Sheryl spoke with immense dominance, grabbing the collar of Mei Lind’s clone. Even if it was just a clone, she would have done the same if Mei Lind’s main body were here!
"You!"
Mei Lind was furious, wishing her main body could come over right now! She was the Academy Dean, after all... with the other party bossing her around like this, didn't she have any face?
Of course she did! So her main body forced her emotions down and didn't come over. If her main body came and this Rebel Witch still acted this crazy, her dignity would be completely gone. Moreover, this was happening right in front of Xiao Han!
"Hmph! For Xiao Han’s sake, I won't argue with you!"
"Heh! And for Xiao Han’s sake, I’ll consider you sensible!" Sheryl released the Dean’s collar and smoothed out the slight wrinkles in her own clothes.
This outburst was mainly due to long-accumulated emotions. As a Rebel Witch, her emotional management was usually excellent; she hadn't expected to lose her composure like this.
"Phew... Sorry, Xiao Han. I lost my cool just now. It’s just that... some witches are so used to teaching ordinary students that they’ve forgotten how to nurture a genius."
"As if you’re so great at it," Dean Mei’s clone muttered from the side, clearly holding a grudge against the Rebel Witch.
"At least my thinking is correct. Have you ever taken Xiao Han to see the wider world? Have you let her see how vast the Void is? I see you only talk about it. Without real experience, it’s all an illusion!"
"..."
Mei Lind fell silent. It seemed... she really hadn't done that. Even though Xiao Han had already severed the shackles of the Main World and earned the right to leave, Mei had never given her a ticket to explore.
"Even the furthest place Xiao Han has been—the game world—was because I took her. Because of your influence, she could only go as a clone."
"I don't want to say anything more. You don't think I came here for your Main World conquest plan, do you? What is the Main World even worth? Don't mistake my patience for Xiao Han as an endorsement of the Main World, or I’ll show you exactly what a Rebel Witch is capable of."
* * *
A long time later.
Two figures left Dean Mei’s office. After leaving, they arrived at a Witch Cat Café.
"This place again. The closest cat café to the Dean’s office isn't this one," I remarked.
"I like it here," Sheryl said without much explanation, then ordered two Fool's Dream Drinks.
Before long, a petite figure arrived on a small trolley.
"Hiya~ It’s you! I didn't expect to see you again!" The cheerful Fool's Dream creature became very enthusiastic upon seeing Sheryl. Then her gaze landed on me.
"It’s Sister Xiao Han! Yay!"
This Fool's Dream creature was named Yu Cha. If I remembered correctly, she had been the one to prepare our Fool's Dream Drinks the last few times.
"I knew you must be close with Sister Xiao Han! You actually invited her out again? But Sister Xiao Han already has Sister Bai!"
"I know that, of course. I’m just inviting a friend out for a chat," Sheryl said with a smile, reaching out to tease Yu Cha.
Soon, two Fool's Dream Drinks were prepared.
"Enjoy~ Hiya! A new order just came in. I can't chat with Big Sister and Sister Xiao Han anymore. I have to get to work!"
Watching Yu Cha leave, I picked up the drink beside me.
"Even though I’m just a clone, it doesn't mean I can't sense that you seem to have a soft spot for this Fool's Dream creature," I said.
"Prying into another witch’s privacy isn't very polite."
"Please~ I’m just a clone, and you’re a transcendent witch! If even I can see it, shouldn't you look for the reason within yourself?"
"Is it that obvious?" Sheryl blinked, subconsciously touching her cheek. "Alright, alright... witches always have a soft spot for cute things. I have to admit, your Fool's Dream creatures are very cute."
"They aren't mine. Fool's Dream creatures are free," I said, shaking my head.
"Even if a witch runs off with one, you’d just let them be free?" Sheryl asked with a smile.
"If they want to... they can return to their dream home, Fool's Village, at any time. After all, they haven't shed their essence as dream creatures."
"Back in the office, you mentioned the Fool's Dream life experiment. Are you absolutely certain about it?" Sheryl followed up.
"Why are you suddenly interested in that?"
"Just curious. If you don't want to answer, forget it. Also, what are your plans next?" Sheryl asked. Her outburst and confrontation with Mei Lind had served as a release for the frustration she felt in the Main World. Now, bringing Xiao Han out proved that there would be no more surprises regarding this matter.
"Then I won't answer. As for my plans, naturally, it’s to eat, sleep, and play my heart out~"
"Hmm?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? I’m a clone. If I don't play, are you expecting me to go out and struggle for a career?"