Chapter 27:
The Elders' Challenge
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With some of the Clans monitoring the powerful Arena Academy every hour of the day, news were bound to travel much quicker to the higher ups of those major Clans. Thus, when the Headmaster had supposedly been injured yesterday, reports were immediately sent to their respective Clan Masters.
Although they did not know who fought the Headmaster, they had assumed that the Headmaster was “injured” after the battle. And three particular Clans that had been vying to take over the Arena Academy for themselves were itching to make a move right after this. These three Clans are precisely The Golden Phoenix Clan, the Crimson Dragon Clan, and the Rossia Clan.
The Clan Masters had spared no effort before sending out their three strongest elders and their brightest younger generation clan members to take over the Arena Academy. The younger clan members would be tasked with dealing with the students and teachers, while the elders would fight the Headmaster while she’s still injured.
The elders are to not, under any circumstances, to engage in battle with elders from the other Clans who have went to the Arena Academy until the Headmaster have been defeated.
Moreover, the Clan Masters were confident that their younger clan members were in no way weaker than the students at the Academy. As Clans that are eyeing the seat of the Headmaster, they naturally did not send their members to the Academy. Instead, they personally gave guidance to their younger generations. With the Clan’s huge resources and strong experts, nurturing clan members who were no weaker than Academy students is no exaggeration in the slightest, albeit few who choose to do so due to the large expenses.
In the history of the United World, only the Golden Phoenix Clan, the Crimson Dragon Clan, the Rossia Clan, and the Kingdom of Sand Clan have been reluctant to send their members to the Arena Academy.
And because the Kingdom of Sand was the most mysterious of all the Seven Major Clans, they often did not show themselves, much send their members to the Academy. The other three can be considered enemies of the Academy, though they would try to pretend to be friendly on the surface to hide their true nature.
While the three princes were bickering, a shadow suddenly emerged from within the overcast shade of the school’s building. Immediately, the elders and teenagers were alerted. They stopped talking as they stared at the emerging figure.
The moment the groups of people saw who it was, they began to feel slightly nervous as they heightened their guard to their max.
When the two Class 8 students saw the person coming from the shadow, a look of relief appeared on their face. With a polite bow, they cried out in unison:
““We greet the Headmaster!””
Headmaster Ember looked at her students before giving them a slight nod. “Take the other three children and quickly return inside the school.”
The two students gave a breath of relief as if they had been released on amnesty before picking up the fallen students and leaving in a raggedly manner towards the school.
Headmaster Ember turned to face the three groups as a cold light shone in her eyes. “What business would the three Major Clans want from my Arena Academy at this time?” Headmaster icily said. She did not bother properly greeting these vile beings who only knew to covet her position and school.
“Haha, it is nice seeing you again, Headmaster Ember. It has been a while.” One of the elder from the Rossia Clan spoke up first this time.
The three princes had already retreated behind their elders by this time. Right now, even though they possessed a high status within the community, it was still not enough for them to speak with the Headmaster. They simply did not have strength or status yet to do so. At this point, it was now the adults’ turn to take the stage.
“Cut the pretense, Karl Voidbone,. I asked you, what do you want from my Arena Academy today?” Headmaster Ember said as she narrowed her eyes at the elder named Karl.
Feeling the headmaster’s cold gaze, Karl involuntarily shuddered in his heart as he cursed inwardly. “Damn, even if injured, this old hag can still give off such a nasty feeling...is she really hurt?”
Keeping his fake smile, Karl said: “Since the Headmaster is so straightforward, then I will naturally get to the point. This time around, we, the nine elders present here, want to battle against you for the seat of the Headmaster.”
Headmaster Ember narrowed her eyes upon hearing this. “Just with you nine alone? Hmph. But if you three manage to win, then which clan will be the ultimate holder of my position?”
She was attempting to sow discourse among the three clans. After all, the position of headmaster may only be inherited by one person. And Headmaster Ember had yet to completely transfer over her position to Vinci. Although she had given over the power to Vinci, it was not made official yet. Therefore, at this moment, she still retained her duty as the headmaster, but without the rights to her school anymore. That was why she had decided to come out and confront these old timers.
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As the headmaster, she naturally knew the strength of the nine elders from the three Major Clans. So it would be unwise to let anyone else confront them. And she did not dare request something of Vinci as of now.
But other than those reasons, it was also because she hated those three Major Clans to the bone. After all, who wouldn’t hate a person who has been constantly sending assassins after you and scheming behind the your back for several years in a row?
Although she remained dignified for appearance, the headmaster was most definitely not on good terms with the other side, just like how they aren’t willing to accept the headmaster.
“Headmaster Ember does not have to worry. Our clans have agreed to temporarily transfer the position rights to the Crimson Dragon Clan for the time being. We plan to sort everything else afterwards, so no need for the headmaster for worry about us.” Karl smiled darkly.
Headmaster Ember snorted as she glanced at the other elders. But when her eyes landed on one particular elder in a golden colored robe, the headmaster narrowed her eyes.
“Even that old thing is here as well…” Headmaster Ember thought as her eyes lingered on the old man.
The elder had a hair full of white, yet his face remained young, looking to be around forty or forty five years old. He was giving off a powerful aura, that seemed to be the strongest among all nine elders.
Sensing that someone was watching him, the elder in golden clothes looked around and found the Headmaster staring at him.
Slowly breaking out into a smile, the old man greeted Headmaster Ember: “Hello, Headmaster Ember. It has been a while since we have met. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten about me, yet?”
“Adam Firse. First elder of the Crimson Dragon Clan. Five years ago when you tried to assassinate me, I have to say that your power was quite good. So naturally, how could I forget someone who had almost killed me before?” Headmaster Ember said icily as the cold light in her eyes got stronger.
“Haha, you praise me too highly, dear headmaster. I was merely an Overlord Rank back then, while you were still Heavenly Rank. Now that you have grown stronger, how could it be easy for me to defeat you anymore?”
Although Adam had seemingly said it in a humble manner, there was a hint of sarcasm and arrogance in his words. The Headmaster did not even bother replying to him.
“This strange feeling...he must have ranked up over the past few years…” Headmaster frowned as she turned her gaze away. There was a barely noticeable tense expression on her face now.
When one wants to level up to the next rank, one would naturally need to meet the requirement of having enough Soul Power. And to increase one’s SP, that person would either have to continuously train their body through practicing their magic so that they could forcefully expand the amount of SP they have inside their body. Another way would be for that person to consume precious potions or focus on comprehending the mystics of either their magics or martial arts.
By consuming strong potions, they could quickly increase their Soul Power, allowing them to quickly reach the next rank. Or if they could comprehend a large amount of the essences in either magic or martial arts, their soul will naturally expand after “understanding” those foundations.
A sign that one has reached the next rank is through being tested by a rank-discerning Crystal Ball. But others, through the use of powerful discerning magics, would be able to tell a person’s rank with a glance.
And it is even said that the higher the rank someone is, the stronger the pressure that person would give off, even without doing anything. That was another obtruse method of identification.
And while Headmaster Ember was a Heavenly Ranker five years ago, she was still considered extremely powerful, considering the scarcity of such ranks in the United World. But back then, because of a surprise attack, she was heavily wounded by Karl. In the end, she managed to repel him using a magic spell that nearly consumed her entire soul. But throughout the battle, it was hard-fought one.
Even though being a rank lower than her, the other party was in no mean inferior to her in tactics and battle prowess. If not for the difference in rank, resulting in the disparity of SP tank, Headmaster Ember might have really lost that day.
Moreover, the Headmaster even suspected if Karl had truly ranked up and Heavenly Rank, then he would be comparable to the strength of a Clan Master!
And that assassination attempt five years ago, Headmaster Ember had nearly died fighting Karl, who by himself.
This time, not only was this difficult-to-deal-with Karl here, there are even another 8 Overlords to watch out for. And these nine were all here to challenge her today.
A slightly uneasy feeling slowly sprouted in Headmaster Ember’s heart as she coldly glared at the opposite parties.